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Gc 

929.2 
L711t 
pt.l 
no. 5 
1535202 



M.L. 



GENEALOGY COLLECTION 



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iil*HiimM9?iV,MT^ PUBLIC LIBRARY 



3 1833 00853 9618 



THE 

LITCHFIEID 

FAMILY 

IN 
AME RICA 

W. J. Litchfield, 
comp. 

Part One No. 5 

November, 1906 



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1535202 





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Fifth Generatioti. 305 

bridge, to pay all my Just Debts, — whom also I hereby appoint Ex- 
ecutor to this my Last Will & Testament — In Witness whereof I have 
hereunto Set my hand & Seal this First Day of May in the year of 
Our Lord, One thousand Seven hundred & Ninety Seven — 

Sligned, Sealed, Published, & De- 
clared, by the said Samuel Stock- z'*'*'^'''^ 
bridge, to be his Last Will & ^^^^^^^^ STOc:Kr>RiDGE ^.J 
Testament in Presence of Us- — 

Charles Turner junr. Joseph Gushing. Noah Nickols Junr. 

The bond of ^2,000.00 of Samuel Stockbridge, executor, was 
approved October 23, 1S02. Joseph Gushing and Noah Nichols, 
Jr., a:e named as sureties. Nath^ Lothrop and Isaac Lothrop 
were witnesses to the bond. 

The inventory of the estate of Gapt. Samuel^ Stockbridge, 
w^hich follows, was sworn to, on Dec. 6, 1802. 

An Inventory* of the Estate of Samuel Stockbridge late of Scitu- 
ate Gentleman deceased : 

" To purse & apperl [apparel], $33.05 ; Notes of hand &- accounts, 
^69. 23 : houshold furneture, $296.93 ; Machanical tools, $25.85 ; P'arm- 
ing utensils, $88.40; To Lumber, $32.54; Stock Ghattles, 55433.38; 
To Real Estate, ^^6092. 33 ; Total, $7071.71." 

In the Massachusetts Direct Tax Listsf of 1798, the follow- 
ing Stockbridges of Scituate are named: Charles, Jsmcs, Sam- 

* Recorded, Plyn\outh County Probate Registry, vol. xxxviii : p. 223. The in- 
ventory is dated Scituate, Oct. 30, iSo2, and tlie appraisers were Daniel^ Litch- 
field, James Stockbridge and Charles Cole. 

t These Lists are contained in bound books, deposited in the rooms of the N. 
E. Historic Genealogical Society, by the Collector of the I'ort of Boston. They 
are in two Parts. That portion of Part One wliich includes Scituate and Hano- 
ver is dated Mch. 30, 1799, ^-"^ is headed as follows : " General Lift of Dwelling- 
Houfes, which, v.-ith the C>ut-Houfes appurtenant thereto, and the Lots, on which 
the fame are erected, not exceeding two Acres in any Cafe, were owned, poffeffed 
or occupied on the ifi day of October i79cS, within the Affefunent DiftricT; No. 12, 
in the 6t'i Divifion of the State of Maffachufelts, exceeding in Value the Sura of 
one hundred Dollars." A like poition of Part Two is designated as follows : 
"General Lill of Land;,, Lots, Buildings, and Wharves, owned, poffeft'ed or occu- 
pied on the firft day of October 179S, v.ithin the Affeffment Diftrid Mo. 12 in the 
6th Divifion of the State of Maiiachufetts, excepting only fuch Dwelling ?Ioufes 
appurtenant thereto, and the Lots on which they are erccled, not exceeding two 
acres in any cafe;, are above the value of one hundred Dollars." The principal 
assessor was Charles Turner, Jr., and his assistants were David Jacob, Jr., James 
Briggs, jr., Hayward Peirce and Calvin Pt-irce, their autographs appearing at the 
end of these written Lists. Reference will be made to these Pirect Tax Lists, in 
the accounts of severaJ faqniiies in this Genealogy. 



3o6 Lawre7ice Litchfield and His Descendants. 



uel, Samuel, Jr., and Stephen; also David and William of 
Hanover. 

Children of Samuel and Sarah? (Litchfield) Stockbridge, born 
at Scituate : 

i. ]o\m^ Stockbridge, b. June 19, 176S; d. Au^. 26 1768 
(Scit. Rec). 

209. ii. Samuel Stockbridge, Jr.* b. July 26, 1769; m. 1800, 

Sibae^ Litchfield (of Family No. 60), his first cousin! 
K.es. Cohasset. 

210. iii. Betty (Betsey) Stockbridge, b. July 24, 1771; d. unm., 

Nov. 21, 1852, aged 81 yrs. (Cohasset town records). ' 

•" iv. JosiAH Stockbridge, b. Aug. 15, 1773; d. July 20 17"- 

(Scit. Rec). • ' /'» 

V. -Kassandar (or " Kassandra ") Stockbridge, b. May 19, 

1775 ; d. Mch. 20, 1782 (Scit. Rec), A daughter. 

211. vi. Polly (or Mary) Stockbridge, b. Mch. 30, 1777 ; m. Joseph 

Wade of Boston (intentions t were recorded on Scituate 

town book, Jan. 12, 1799). 
vii. Pknelope Stockbridge, h. Oct. 25, 1780; m. 1806, Fesius-' 

Litchfield (of Family No. 60), her first cousin. 
2i2.viii. Hector Stockbridge, h. Nov. 22, 1782; m. 1807, Clara 

(or Clarissa) Nichols. Res. Cohasset, where he was 

drowned in 1810. 
213. ix. Alexander Stockbridge, h. Mch. 10, 1785; d. at sea in 

1809 {/od WillcutVs Diary, Cohasset). Prob. unm., 

and res. Cohasset. 



59 

Jacobs Litchfield {JosiaJi,^ Nicholas,-^ Josiali,^ Laivrencc') 
was born in Scituate, March 12, 1 7 50--1 ; baptized September 
29, 175 1. " Yeoman." He was of Chesterfield when married iu 
Scituate^ November 24, 1774 (int. March 13, at Scituate; April 
12, at Chesterfield), by Rev. Ebenezer Grosvenor, minister of 
the First Church, to Sarah^ Litchfield, his first cousin, born in 
Scituate, . October 14, 174S, daughter of Nicholas'' and Sarah 

* His est. admn. at Dedham (iSic^ii). Case Nos. 17,424 and 17,42;. He 
was a shipwright. ^ 

t Their intentions are recorded on Boston records: "Joseph Wade h Mary 
btockbndgecf Scituate. — Jan. 10, 1799." No marriage rec. 



Fij'lh Gtiicraiion. 307 



(SuKllcy) Litchfield (see pp. 147--151). She died at Chester- 
field, May 7,-'' 1818 (town record). 

Jacobs served in the Revolutionary war (sec Apjiendix and 
iJiarv of Dea. Israel^ Litchfield), while living in Chesterfield, 
Han'[)shire County, Mass., o^ which town he was one of the set- 
tlers, as early as 1773. In 1772, Josiah,'* his father, had deeded 
(sec p. 139) him 50 acres of land in Chesterfield, and in his will, 
1783, lie gave Jacob-' all his real estate in Chesterfield (see p. 
143). It is known that he settled in Chesterfield before his 
marriage. After the death of his wife, in 1818, Jacobs went to 
Can'.;jn, St. Lawrence County, New York,f where he died, Feb- 
ruary 19, 1S25, at the home of his son, Israel Ciark^" Litchfield. 

Hampshire County, established in 1662, formerly included all 
the territory of Massachuset.:s west of Worcester County. Berk- 
shire County was set off in April, 1761 ; Franklin County, in 
June, 181 1 ; and Ikimpden County in February, 18 12. 

Chesterfield was established 'ii June, 1762, out of the "new 
plantation called Now Hing'h'Mn," v/ith additioiis of land, later. 
In the account of Chesterfield tiven in Gay's Gazctiec}- of Ilctinp- 
sJihr County (1887), p. 207, a list of original settlers appears, 
pevhaps incomplete. It includes (besides Jacobs Litchfield) the 
folknving from Scituate : Benjamin, Consider and Prince Bryant, 
Abntr, Nehemiah and Benjrmip. Bates, Joseph and Joshua Bailey, 
Charles and Job Cudworth, Robert Amos and Isaiah Damon, 
Beiijamin, Thomas and Jonathan Peirce, John Pynchon \>. Pincin], 
Joshua and John Rogers, Abiel Stetson, Seth, Nehemiah and 
Luke Sylvester, Elisha Witherell ; from Cohasset, Ichabod Da- 
mon (see page 126, footnote, this Gcnealog}-), John Stephenson, 
Jesse and Zebulon Willcutt (^oe P'amily 198) ; from Pembroke, 
Benjamin Bonney, Gideon and Jotham Bisbee, Joseph Nichols, 
Zebulon Robin.son and Seth Taylor; from Hingham, Abijah 
Whiton ; others were from Charlton, Pelham, Dudley, i)ridge- 
water, ]3rookfieId, Northampton, F-aston, Mru'blehead, Mass., and 
Cambridge, N. Y. 



•* The Susan (Keith) Litchfield Mentoriinduin (see Family No. 317) gives the 
date of death. May i-^, iSiS. 

*" The Susan (Kfilh) Litchfield Mf/norartdum, and Mis. N. .M. Vaiiator, Cliaiicl 
Le;:;.:c, Mich. (1S99). a gieat-granddaughiei, are auihoiiii-.-^ for tliis stjii' neni. 



3o8 Lawrence Litchfield and Llis Descendants. 



Holland's History of Westeim Massachusetts, vol. ii : pp. 1S3- 
189, in its sketch of Chesterfield, gives the name of Jacob? Litch- 
field and others, as early settlers. 

Jacobs was in Scituate on Feb. 9, 1789. when he gave the 
following receipt, found in the " Liba Litchfield Collection " : 

SciTLATK, Feb. 9, 17S9. 

Received of Daniel [Family No. 57] Litchfield, Thirty one pounds 
ten shillings, also some wearing apparel, said money i^: said apparel 
being a Legacy given unto me, by my honoured Father Josiah Litch- 
field Late of Scituate deC^ in and by his last will and Testairieni. of 
which said sum of Thirty one pounds ten shillings together wiih .?° 
wearing apparel, I do acquit and fully discharge the s'^- Daniel Litch- 
field his Heirs Executors &: Administrators and every of them for- 
ever. In. witness whereof I do hereunto set my liand and seal the 
day and year above written. 
Witnesses : 

John Ewell (Signed) Jacob LiTCHtir? d. 

Israel Litchfield 

Also, in this Collection, was found the following power of at- 
torney given to John Ewell of Chesterfield, June 12, 179S (the 
first part of the paper is here omitted) : 

For us and in our Name to sell assign and transfer all the 

Real Estate that now Belongs to the Said Sarah and that was Left t- 
her by her Mother Sarah Litchfield [.see Family 29] Late of* Sci^i- 
ueate Deceased of which the said Sarah is the proper heir and in out 
Name to give proper deed of the Same to any person that may bye 
the same and further more we impower our said attorney [to] Settle 
all our accounts debts due and demands that we have against any 
person or persons in the town of Scituate in the county of plynioutli 
or to demand and to sue for and Receive such sums as may app^'.ir 

to be our due 

Witnesses : ^„,.— »-_ — ^ 

Benjamin Bonnev ^-^^J"'''*^ j^ ^ ' .^"^'^^TT^yfJ-^ 

He,veyBon„ey' ^''i^>^^^^Y^^ 

[Signed] 



;A^^X^^/,-/^,,p 



Fifth Gcnoalion, 309 



On the back of this legal paper is the following endorsement : 

Mr Amos litchfield [Family No. 66] Pleas to pay to Alalichi Ewell 
what Shall be found to be due to Jacob lilchfields wife for her legacy 
and his racate [receipt] Shall be your Discharge. 
Chesterfield, June 20. 179S 

[Signed] John Ewell aturne [Attorney] 

Jacobs Litchfield was a farmer in Chesterfield, and his home- 
stead was on the Delbert Bisbee fami. See Evert s's History of 
HampsJiirc County (1879), pp. 493-506, which also states that 
three of his sons, " Clark," Lot and Joel, served in the war of 
18 12. On page 503, it says: "At West Chesterfield, Elisha 
Bisbee buUt in very old times a saw-mill on Stevens Brook, where 
Higgins' gun-tube works are located now ; successive owners 
were Capt. Joel Thayer, Martin Bryant, Reed and Tower, Toy- 
man Litchfield,^ and Mr. Higgins. A foundry and machine- 
shops were built by Mr. LitcJificld, 1845 to '48, on the site of 
Spencer & Reed's works. They were burnt. Then Edward 
Thayer built a grist-mill." 

There are deeds of Jacobs Litchfjcld, grantor and grantee, re- 
corded at Springfield, Hampden County, and at Northampton, 
Ham})shi)e Count)'. The three at Springfield include the one 
already referred to, on page 1 39, and the following : 

June' I, 1778. Jacob Litchfield, yeoman, and Sarah Litchfield, 
"spinster," both of Chesterfield, for £20, sell to Benjamin Pierce of 
Chesterfield, about six acres in Chesterfield, of which Benjamin Kidd 
was an abutter. Witnesses: Moses Dammon and Edward Fobes. 
[Vol. xvii : p. 246.] 

March 12, 1782, Jacob Litchfield of Chesterfield, yeoman, for 
;£'65, iGt., sells to Daniel Litchfield of Scituate, yeoman, "a Cartin 
peace of Land Laying in Chesterfield Laying on the Easterly Side of 
the Town Road that Leads By s'^ Litchfield house and is Bounded as 
follows viz : Begining at a Stone-wall & runs Easterly with s<^ v>rall 
about forty Rods to Benj. Peirces Lane and with s'^ Peirces Lane 
Southerly Eighty Rods then west to the tow^n Rode and Then with 
the Rode to the first mentioned Corner." Witnesses: Justus Wright, ' 



* The italicizing is done by the Compiler. This ^vas probably Lyman'' Litch- 
field, a grandson of Jacob^ Litchfield. 



310 Lawrence LHchfdd and His Descendants. 



Joseph Bailey. Rec. Mch, 19th. p/'ol. xviii: p. 342.] This deed 
is in the " Liba? Litchfield Collection." 

At Nortliampton, deeds indicate the transfer of property from 
Jacobs Litchfield to Gathclus Cowing, in 1791 and 1797 ; to Ed- 
mund Sylvester, in 1794; to Eli Bryant, in 1799; to Benjamin 
Pierce (two deeds), in 1799; to Moses Kingsley, in 1800; and 
Joseph Lyman, in iSoi. Deeds to Jacobs are recorded from 
Eli Bryant, in 179S; from Daniel Litchfield, in 1799; and from 
Moses Kingsley, in 1 800. A deed from Sarah, wife of Jacob,5 
to Benjamin Pierce, is recorded in 1799. 

It is very probable that all the children* of Jacobs Litchfield 
were born at Chesterfield, but the births of Israel Clark,^ and of 
the older Lot^ and the older Agnes^ have not, at this writing, 
come to light. 

Children! of Jacob? and Sarah? (Litchfield) Litchfield : 

i. LoT,^ b, ; d. young. 

214. ii. Israel Clark (called Clark), b. ; m. abt. iSii, 

Chloe Keith ; resided in Canton, N. Y., and in Ohio, 
probably. War of 1812. 

215. iii. Joel, b. Chesterfield, June i, 1778; m. Betsey Barruss, 

before 1803 ; resided in Bethany, Genesee Co., N. Y. 
War of 18 1 2. 

216. iv. Susanna, b. Chesterfield, Aug. 18. 1780: in. Samuel 

Stiles; d. Canton, N. Y., in 1848. More data desired. 

217. V. Lot (" Lott "), b. Chesterfield, Sept. 25,1 1782 ; in. Susan 

Keith, abt. 1S03. Res. Chesterfield. War of iS 12. 
vi. Agnes, b. \ d, young. 

218. vii. Agnes, b. Chesterfield, Jan. 8, 1785 ; is said to have died 

at Canton, N. Y. Was she married ? 

* Morse's Litchfield Genealogy gives the names ■n-ithout dates of Lot, " I. Clerk " 
{sic)., Joel, Lot, Susanna, Penelope, Agnes and Agnes. His authority has not 
been ascertained. It is certain that there was an Israel Clark,^ for descendants 
have been traced, but a Lot and an Agnes appear in the list of children, on the 
authority quoted. As the vital records of Canton, N. Y., have been destroyed by 
fire on two or more occasions since this family lived there, dates and names from 
that town are una\ailab!e. 

" T In a list of children of Jacob and Sarah Litchfield sent by C. T. Macomber, 
Bisbees, Mass., as taken by him from the Chesterfield records, is found also a 
Aliriam, b. ^Ich. 23, 1776, but the Compiler is doubtful of her identity. Can any 
one give further data about her.' 

{ C. T. Macomber says Sept. 5, 1782. / 



Fifth Generation. 311 



219. viii. Pfnelope, b. Chesterfield, Dec. 15, 1787; m. " Ryal " 
(? Ruel) Risley ; d. Canton, N. Y., in 1835. More 
data desired. 

60 

IsRAEi-S Litchfield {Josia/i* Nicholas,^ JosiaJi,^ Lawrence'') 
was born in Scituate, July 3, 1753; baptized September 22, 
1754, Resided in Scituate and is known as "Deacon Israel 
Litchfield." 

Morse's LiicJifield Genealogy (1855) says of him : 

Deacon Israel was an enlightened and much respected citizen. 
Long will his menior)^ be cherished by the churches and people of 
Scituate who are still reaping the benefits of his protracted and use- 
ful life. He represented Scituate in the General Court in 1778, and 
was a member of the Convention in 1779,* to prepare a Constitution 
for Massachusetts. In 1820, he prepared a Genealogical tree of no 
families of Litchfields, which, though v.-ithout dates, marriages and 
residences and the earliest history of the race in New England, 
shows an honorable reverence for sires to whom he in common with 
so many was greatly indebted, and indicates a desire to benefit them 
by turning their hearts to the fathers. Since collecting and arrang- 
ing most of this Genealogy, I have been enabled through the assist- 
ance of my esteemed friend, Rev. Daniel Wight, of Scituate, to pro- 
cure this chart, ascertain its perfect agreement with my arrangement, 
and add most of the families which appear without dates, marriages, 
and residences. 

Then follows Mr. Morse's account of the family of Dea. 
Israels Litchfield, which is faulty and incomplete. The Compiler 
does not wish to detract from the honor due to such men as 
Morse. Deane and Deacon Israel^ Litchfield for their work in 



*The Compiler finds no substantiation of this service. There was a State 
Constitutional Convention in 1779-S0, a United States Constitutional Conven- 
tion in 178S, and another State Constitutional Convention in 1820-21, but no 
record has been discovered of any one of the name of Litchlield serving as Dele- 
gate^ or Member. 



312 Lawrence JAtchficld and His Descendants. 



genealogy, in a time when family research was not general ; Inu 
the spirit of deep, critical, exhaustive study of printed and writ- 
ten records, which is now the rule among genealogist?, was in 
their day almost wholly unknown ; hence the l)revity and faliibil- 
jt)' of their contributions to family history. It is not knowD 
\\hcre the Deacon Israels Litchfield chart, referred to b)' Morse. 
is in hiding, if extant. But an exact copy of the chart, as made 
by a granddaughter,* has been seen by the Compiler, which 
shows good and excellent work on the part of the Deacon, as far 
as it goes. Since then almost a century has passed and with 
the years have come an incalculable amount of data on the Litch- 
field family, in biographical and genealogical matter. This Gen- 
ealogy is an exposition of the truth of these statements. 

DIARY OF ISRAEL^ LITCHFIELD. 

The following are abstracts from the Diary or "Journal" of 
Deacon Israels Litchfield of Scituate, as written by him during 
his young manhood, mostly in the years 1774-5, and as pre- 
served to us. The book itself is in a somewhat dilapidated con- 
dition in the back part, and several pages have been torn or lost 
from it, so that it is not known just the last date in which he 
entered his memoranda. It is composed of 48 pages in fairly 
good condition, and two more in a bad condition, making 50 in 
all which are left for perusal. These pages are about 12J inches 
long and about 8 inches wide. They are sewed into a mottled, 
stiff pasteboard cover. Of course there are many stains, era- 
sures, and indistinct parts in it. In several instances he used a 
cipher language to conceal some incidents and comments which 
he did not care for outsiders to know. Eracketted and italicized 
words are interpolated by the Compiler. The condition of tlie 
weather is given daily almost without exception. Particularly 
interesting portions are his entries in April, 1775, and again in 
June of the same year ; also his descriptions of the several jour- 

* Miss Sarah Baiky, dau. Rowland and Serissa' (Litchfield), of Rockland, who, 
in July, 1S99, poiisessed this chart, -which, on transparent linen, she copied from 
the original which she had seen many times, but of whose location she was then 
in doubt. Miss Bailey died in 1905. 



Fifth Gciicraiion. 313 

ncys to Boston and Chesterfield. The original Diary was pro- 
cured from Miss Ella Farmer of West Hini^'^ham, Mass., into 
whose possession it bad come legally by will of Paul Brooks Mer- 
ritt (of Family No. 220), a grandson of Dea. Israels Litchfield, 
Mr. Meiritt having married Miss Farmer's sister. The Com- 
piler persuaded Aliss Farmer to give the Diary* to the New- 
England Historic Genealogical Society, in whose possession it 
now is. 



November 4'*^ Anno Domini i7[74] \Jorn'\ tlie weather Pleafant I 
wrought in the {iUegibk and toni] 

5''' : I Curried Leather it was Rainy weather \torn~\ 

5th . Was Sabbath Day I went to meeting the ReV M"" Grof- 
veno[r] Preached he took for his textf the 22^ Verfe of the 7"' 

Chap[ter] of Romans M"" Daniel Jenkins having a Pair of 

twins Chriftned one of them was Called Silas and the other was 
Called Deborah James Litchfield [Family No. 62] Commonly known 
by the name of James Brine [?] had a Daughter Christned by the 
name of Elifabeth 

7'^ : 1 Curried Leather it hath been Called llie 

wnrmefl Diyest fall that has been known tliis great many years folks 
say 

8"^ Lot [his brother] cut wood towards Night We Exerficed 

a little by Daniels [his brother] houfe 

9*'' : aboute one oclock in the morning I got up to fix to go to 
Bollon after a while Hay ward Peirce and Lawrence Litchfield [Fam- 
ily No. 121] came and Called me & we sat out we went by the way 
of James's and in them woods we got moll Confoundedly Lost 1 

* The following sketch appears on the iiisids of the first cover just before the 
Diary begins, and was probably written by Taul Brooks Merrill, several years ago : 

" Israel Litchfield, the writer of the following pages, was born in Scituate, Mass., 
July titl'- 1753, and died January I4t'n 1840. He was of the 5th generation from 
Lawrence Litchfield, one of the original Connohasset planters (1640), having de- 
scended through To.^iah, Nicholas, and Josiah. The house in which he was born 
is still standing, on the corner of High and Beechwood Street near the westeni 
boundary of Scituate. Me was for nearly half a century Deacon of the first 
Church in S., filled many municipal offices and was twice elected representative to 
the General Court. His scientific acquirements (considering the advantages he 
enjoved) were very considerable, particularly in mathematics, and his excellent 
judgment an.d strong good sense caused him to be frequently appealed to as an 
arbitrator, lie left many descendants in .Scituate." 

t In nearly every case the diarist quotes the words of the text; omitted here 
foi brevity. 



314 Laiurcricc Litchfieid atul His J^cscendants. 



was oblig[ed] \worn off] to git James to Pilot us through. We got 
to Cowings by Sunrife there we oated our horfes we got into Bof- 
town I think a Httle part Eleven o Clock we put out our horfes at the 
Widdow hatches* went to Dinner at Pillimst in wings Lain J we 
Lodged at Night at the Widdow Hatches Very good Lodging Elce 

\Jorn'] [Nov 10] Annoque Domini 1774 [a line in a peculiar 

kind of cipher.] 

[iorn and indistinct'] [I got] home from Boston 1/4 before three we 
Stop'^ at \Joni\ and Oated our horfes we got to James 1/4 paft 9 our 

folks killed' the beef 

. Daniel plow^ for Jonathan Studly the v;eather pleafant 



,th 



12"* I Curried Daniel plow<^ for Jonathan Studly in the forenoon 

in the afternoon he got wood aboute three oclock this morning 

Daniels wife was brought to bed with a Son this is llicir 5"' Child 
and their 3'' Son [See Family No 57.] 

13**'. Was Sabbath day I Went to meeting M'' Grofvenor took 

his text In 2d of Corinthians 5"^ Chapter 17*^ Verfe [Two 

lines in cipher.] 

14*^ In the forenoon I worked Some in the Shop and at the tan 
houfe in the afternoon We went to training We met at Landlord 
Fofters there were above Sixty that bore arms the Officers Draw'^ 
us up in three Ranks then the Captain Read Nine Articles that were 
Compofed by the Officers and Comitie After he had Read them he 
put them to vote Paragraph by Paragraph and they were unanimously 
Voted by the Company 

15th. November A D 1774 We [killed] our hogs 

le"': I worked upon my gun Daniel Shoemade. I heel tap^ a 
pair of Shoes for Salle [?] In the Evening I Sew'd a pump for 
Daniel 

17'^ : In the forenoon I Work'd at the tanhouse put 19 sides into y« 
Lime In the Afternoon 12 of us met at Daniels and Excrcifed We 
ufed what they Call the Norfolk Excercife the Weather Cool James 
and Lot [his brothers] Split hills in the orchard field 

18*^ In the forenoon I Went up to John Elmes's Jun'' 

there I Saw three folks on one bed Lot help'd James Split hills in 
the old orchard piece Very Cold and Bluftering Equal to 

'■' Widow Ilalch kept a famous boarding-house at the coiner of Winter and 
Treniont streets. She v;as succeeded by a Mrs. Dexter. See Drake's Old Land- 
marks of Boston, p. 307. 

t " Pillims " was probably a public eating-house. 

X Wing's Lane is now Kim street, Boston, leading off from Hanover street to 
Dock Square. 



Fifth Generation. ^ic 



Common Snow Storm in Winter Daniel and I Sat out up the 

River we went to M"" Gerfhoni Ewells from there to Incine [Ensign] 
Turners there was Cap* Turner ; Lieu* Stetfon {indistituti Sergant 
Stockbriclge cS: Sergeant Jenkins We Excefifed Some in the New 
way Calid the 64"': Daniel got a Book 

19"' It froze in the Shop Cellar all Day with a great fire 

Burning 1 Curryed Lot and Fran«= [Francis, son of Josiahs Litch- 
field, Family No. 54] threfhed Rie Daniel Shoemade 

November the 20*^. Anno Chrifti 1774 Was Sabbath day I went 
to meeting, the Rev^ M'' Barnes Preachd. his text was in the 84*'' 
pfalm. lo^"^ verfe Last Thurfday the wife of M"" Thomas Cur- 
tis Departed this life 

21''*' In the afternoon Lothrop [Family No. 63] and I v;ent 

Down to the Neck after Rye we got 5 1/2 bufliels of Lieutenant Paul 
Bailey and two bufhels of. M"" Jofeph Clapp and that was all that they 
owed us I brought five bufliels on my horfe and Led all the way. 
Lothrop brought two bufhels and a half on his mare and rid all the 
way 

22^. James & Lot Split hills in the upper field viz the old 

orchard 

23^ I got Some Holley Stuff for Exeltrees for Clocks, and Jobb''-. 
aboule 

Let Every Tory in Every town 
their Sordid bad Principles quickly lay down 
making humble Confefiion for their misdemeanour 
their Charecter then prehaps will Look Cleaner. 

24''': To the best of my remembrance I think that I Curried 
Leather however I think that its not very meterial what particular 
Sort of work I did : fo that I wrought faitlifully w[h]ich I Suppofe I 
Did for (to Let you know it) I Do not Call myfelf a very Idle perfon : 
I'm generally bufy aboute Something or other : If it be nothing but 
writeing Such Nonfenfe as this is 

November the 25*'^ Annoque Dominy 1774 Israel Litchfield 

It is in north America in New England I Say, 

See the name of the Colliny is MafTachufetts bay 

The towns rame is Scituate thats the place where I Dwell 

It's ab[o]ute South East from P>oil:on I knov/ ver^' well 

I Whiten'^ oil Leather In the Evening the Wind blew hard at 
Ahoute South It blew down Some trees alfo it blew down our bees 
houfes : .... It was Call^ an uncommon hard gale of Wind. 



3i6 Lawrence Lilch field and His Descendants. 



26'^: 1 finifh*^ off Leather. In the forenoon Daniel Shoe- 
made James & Lot Split hills in the Jonne field In the afternoon 
Daniel helped Plow Lot winnow*^ 17 1/2 bufliels of winter Rie. 

2yth. Was Sabbath Day I went to meeting the Re^' M'' Grofvenor 
preached He took his text in Solomons Songs the fifth Chapter and 
that Claufe of the Sixteenth verfe where it is written, this is my be- 
loved this is [my] friend. M"" Ezekiel Hauden [Hayden] Lost a 
child Last week The funeial of Lieu* Infign Otis to be at- 
tended next tuesday Last thurfdays papers inform us that the 

Children and Regulars that have the Small pox are Carried to the 
pefl houfe. alfo that there Is Eleven Regiments of Soldiers in Bofton 
(a fight with y« Indians at Virg[inia]) 

28th : I wrought at the tanhoufe towards night we Exerfifed at 
Daniels [Ten lines written in a concealed fashion, telling about a 
dance, etc., at Issachar Wade's and a visit to Israel Cowing's.] 

tuesday November the 29th : I workd in the Shop Daniel 

Shoemade James and Lot Split hills Sufanna behind Ix)t Rode 
Down to penelopes [Family No. 74] Ifrael Litchfield Ejus Liber 

30*^ : In the afternoon I went to Daniels and he Cut out a 

pair of thick half boots for me and a pair of thin whole boots out of a 
Sheepskin and trim"^ a pattren for a pair of thick whole boots to a 
propper blgnefs for my leg thefe above mentioned three pairs are 
Defired for my own wear I now have one pair of half Boots befide 

December the i®' : Day Anno Domini 1774. and in the fifteenth 
year of the Reign of George the third alfo the Seventh month of 

the Reign of Tho'" G-gc. [Thomas Gage] over this Province 

I Stuffed out Six Calvefkins and nng"^ off Some leather. In 

the evening I Saw them Exerfife at Haywoods We hear that the 
Small-pox is not Like to Spread in Bofton 

2^; I Wrought in the Currying Shop at Night in the Even- 
ing as you may Say (as Reuben says) : to wit in the afternoon We 
Excerfifed at Daniels after the New form viz the 64**^ 

3^ Early in the morning we Dreffed Damees pigs in the 

afternoon I Curried they got fire wood 

4'^ Was Sabbath Day I went to meeting M"" Grofvenor 

took his text in the 49*^ pfalm and I think the 10*^ verfe. In tlie 
forenoon Old aunt Rebekka Ewell was prayed for being very 111 and 
bereved of her reafon She was taken poorly yeflerday morning : 
She Died this Day before noon I think that She was in the 84*'' Year 
of her age She has been of a very Strong Conflitution the Carpen- 
ters have got all the pews Sat up and Some of the Seats the Place 



Fifth Generation. 317 



for the Singers was erected l.ast week, the Stairs in the wefterly 
porch are not yet built 

December the 5''^ I Curried : Daniel Shoemade with all his 

might I suppofe for this ^'s the first Day that his Apprentice (to wit 
Seth Merritt Jun-^) has wrought With him he is to work with him 
the Value of two or three months Daniel boards him and is to have 
aboute ihirtee Pounds old tennor 

6"' : Daniel Carted 1/2 a Cord of White afli whoop Stuff up 

to m'' Lenj^ Stoddards at Night W'e exerfifed at m"" EHnis's- 

7th : In the afternoon I clofcd upon a pair of boots I mean 

a ])air of half boots for Lot 

8''' ..... In the afternoon 1 went Down to the Cove and bought 
Six bottles of Snuff 

cf" I clofed upon my thick Boots Jt Stormed Confiderably all day 
at Night (We since hear And it is Really true) that there was a Ship 
Drove over a Ledge of rocks near brufh Ifland Shes a 20 gun Ship 
She Stove of[f] a piece of her keel and her Rudder after She was Drove 
over the Ledge. They Let go two Ancors and Rid She Leak[e]d 
Something fast tho. they kept her free with their pumps. It is Said 
that the Captain & mafter and almost all the reft were very much In- 
toxicated with Liquors : they Say that there was three men Drownded. 
there was aboute 150 Souls on board S'^. Ship: the Ship was towd 
away to Bofton a few Days after 'She went over the Ledge a great 
many of the men Ran away I Saw Some of them 1 Suppofe that 

more Particulars will be publiflied in next thurfdays paper But 

there was not &:c 

Saturday. December the lo'^ I workd at Daniels Clofeing 

my thick boots 

ii''> of December Was Sabbath Day I Went to meeting the 
ReV m'^Grofvenor preached he took his text in Hebrews 7^'' : Chapt 
25*'' Verfe 

i2t'> I Curried Daniel and Seth Shoemade I>ot threfli'd In 

the afternoon We Exercifed at m"" Gathelos Cowings Daniel \\'ent 
up to Cap' Turners & they Chofe fifers &:c 

13"^ [and] 14*'' I Clofed upon my thick boots 

15''^ Was a Day Sat apart by the Provincial Congrefs for a Day 
of publick thanksgiving to almighty God for his goodnefs towards us 

^^c t^c I and others went to meeting the ReV m"" Grofvenor 

preached he took his text in the loi pfalm the first Verfe Ac- 
cording to my opinion he talked very well. After the publick 

Service was ended b[e]fore the people were Difmifsed there was a 



3»8 Lawrence- TJtchficld and His Descendants. 



Contribution made for the relief of tlie wife of Jofeph IJayden Jun^ 
and his (^Iiildrcn. She and four of her Children having been sick 
with a feavor and thereby reduced to \ cry needy Circinnftances. ihey 
are not perfectly reftored to hcal[t]h as .yet. A good many of the 
pariflianers Cast in their miies I Gefs tliat there was 30 or 40 pounds 
old ten[or] Contributed for her. M"" janies Cudworth is to take Care 
of the money for her. This evening the Conjucal Ceremony was 
Celebrated at Deacon Ifaac Lincolns to unite m"" James Jenkins Jun*" 
of Scituate and mr^ Ruth Lincoln of Cohaffett and make them bone 
of one bone & Flefh of one flefli M'' Nathaniel Nicols was alfo mar- 
ried this Evening to M""* Sebiah Bates Amos and I went over 

to Battles [Hill]. We had a dance there then Came home. 

16*'^: I wrought at the tanhoufe I unhaird 21 Sides. 

I worked till after Sunset and the Ice made very fast on" my flefliing 
Knife and as 1 jvas trying to Scrape it off on a Stump I Struck the 
Nail of my Left thumb and Started aboute one half of it 

December the 17*'' 

Israel Litchfield Is my Name, and with my pen I wrote the Same 

this book it Doth belong to me, as by thefe Lines I Sliew to thee 

If I Should Chance to Lofe this boo): 

and you Should Chance to find the Same 

I pray Return it unto me for Israel Litchfield Is my name. 

Fran*^ [Francis^] giound bark 1 workd at Daniels a Shoe- 
making In the afternoon I tapd a pair of pumps for my Self. M"" 
Caleb Bailey told me that the night before last he had a hide Stolen 
off from a fence; the hide b[i]Ionged to M"" Seth Merritt he Said 
that it was a Large black Cows hide and more than Common fat on 
the back he Defired me, If any Such hide was brought to me, and 
ofTered for Sail to Speedely Send him werd I hear that M"" Thomas 
Pinchin had a horfe Stole the Same night 

i8*'\ Was Sabbath Day Father & I, Lot & Fran'^ went to meeting 

M"" Grofvenor took his text in James 4''^: 7"' the Stairs in tlie 

weflerly poarch are not yet built all the pews are sat up 

19''' in the forenoon I work'd at Daniels Clofeing my thick boots 
it raind we Exercifed in y« barn 

20"' Jn the forenoon I iinifh[e]d oft some leather In the after- 
noon I Clofed upon my thick boots 

21^': Daniel and Seth [Merritt, Jr.] Shoemade 1 wrought with 
them Clofeing boots Nehemiah Samfon broke flax at night we had 
a Dance at Experience litclifield's [i'^aniily No. 44] eliflia litchiield 



Fifth Generation. ^ig 



[Fai^ily No. 72] fiddled I gave him half a pistereen a dredful frolic 
it was 

22. Daniel and Seth Shoemade I finiflied Clofeing iny thick boots 
It took the Vallue of twenty Eight feet in Length to Clofe them and 
Stitch them it took above 2500 Stitch and [to] Clofe them I think 
it has took me Seven Days to Stich them and Clofe them 

December the 23'''^ I wrought with Daniel and helped him 

make a pair of thick half boots for my Self People Came up in 

the wo[o]ds With their Sleds Confiderably 

24"' I made this ink that thefe Letters are wrote with my 

Left thumb is Very Sore and tender this Day Daniel received 

a Letter from Cheflerfield wrote by Bathflieba [his sister] which in- 
forms us that our friends and Relations at Cheflerfield are in good 

health Daniel and Lot &c Sleded home Some wood A 

little before night Daniel and Lot Went up to M^ James Stockbridges 
and Bought a year and vantage Steer a black white backd one they 
gave £1 : 17 : 4*^ LawfuU money Viz £1^'. o : o old tennor 

25""'* I my Self, Lot & Francies went to meeting the Rev"" M^ 
Grofvenor Preach'd : In the forenoon, he took his text in the gofpel 

according to S*: IMathew ; the 12"' Chap*^"", and the 35**^ Verfe ; 

In the afternoon, the text was in James, 4t^ 7'^. the Same text that he 
had Last Sabbath ; both Sermons 

26*'\ I taped a pair of thick no, no, I mean thin Shoes for my Self 
to Dance on 

2 7^i' In the forenoon fran^ [Francis] & I Cunied Scoured Shaved 
off &r Stuffd out Leather 

28'^" December Annoque Domini MiPeflimo SeptingentefTimo Sep- 
tuageflimo Quarto In the fifteenth year of the Reign of George the 
third of Great Brittain P'rance and Ireland King fides Defendrous 6:c. 
Ifrael Litchfield's Book. 

Praj' Liflen and hear me and mind what I Say 

for half of the work that Ive Done to Day 

It is not worth Six-pence nay a groat would near buy it 

Now Pvc told you the truth & I will not Deny it. [Etc.] 

29'h December I turnd out Some Exceltrees, for a Clock, 

out of Holley wood : It was a very tough Snow Storm yeller- 

day 



* Note that he does not call this day Christmas Day, for as yet no special ob- 
servance was made of it by our Puritan ancestors. 



320 Lawrence Litchfield and LLis Descendants. 



In the afternoon I 

wrought at the tanhoufe: I heard that Last Wednefclay night, 

in the Storm, there was a Scooner Cast awny, upon the fourth Cleft 
[Cliff]. Six nicii Came afliore Drownded. and two Seen on boa'd 
Living 

31st I Curried Leather 

January the firfl Day A U 1775 [written coarsely] this day was 
Sabbath Day I & francies went to meeting the Rev^ M"" grofvenor 
Preachd he took his text in the third Epiflle of John the 2^ Verfe. 
I think that he talked very well After publick Excerfife was Ended 
there was a Contribution made for the ufe of the Suffering Induf- 
terous poor of Boflon who are fuffering on account of the Cruel 
apprefTion of the Bofton port Bill or act of parliment I Cannot form 
an adequate Judgment concerning w^hat quantity of money was given 
'tho I'm prety confident that M"" Barnebas Little put in a Doller 
M"" Obadiah Merritt, went up to the contribution-box, in order to caft 
in his mite, and Struck his hand right against the box, and overfet it 
into the Deacons Seet, box money and all, and threw his money after 
it and made a terrible rattleing it made allmofl Every perfon in the 
meeting houfe to Smile Even M"^ Grofvenor himfelf. This Day I 
heard the particulars Relative to the Shipwreck noted in last frydays 
account which is as follows. The Veffel belonged to Cape Ann. 
She was a Double decker and a Scooner She was ladend with fifh 
and boards and Bound to Domineco [Santo Domingo] they Sailed 
out of Cape Ann harbour Laft tuesday there was Eight Souls on 
board to wit the Cap*, mate, a paffenger, a boy a molattoe and three 
other hands the Storni took them at about ten Leagues Diflance 
from Cape Ann upon which they run for the Cape and made it aboute 
nine o Clock But the wind blew So that they Could not git into 
the harbour so they were obliged to Lay too. they expecting to be 
Cafl on shoar upon this Coail often keept Sounding and a little 
Before twellve o Clock a wedneffday Night they found them Selves 
in twellve fathoms of water It being very thick weather and Snow 
they Cou'd not make the Land so they Let go their Sheet anchor and 
Rid to it a while (It is tho'jght that they were off against Scituate 
harbour) then they Struck a drift they Immagin^- that a fluke of 
their anchor broke, after a while they immagin'^ that the anchor turnd 
and took again and they nd to it again aboute half an hour then they 
Struck a drift again and went right a Shoar at Dead lo\f water they 
Struck upon the Ledges off against the fourth Clift the v/eather was 
so thick after that they Struck they Cou'd not make the Land the 



r 






M- 



■I' 



Fifth Generation. 321 



wind was very bofterous and the Seas run very high and they Struck 
and thumpd nmazeingly the Seas broke over them 'mofi; every Sea. 
the Scooner held together till towards day then She Began to Come 
to peices the Cap^ mate, tS. one hand were upon the Quarter Deck 
being by them Selves fafned to the Crotches cS:c at Lad there Came 
a Sea and nock'd off the Quarter Deck with them three upon it 
the Captain and mate were drownded the other man was waflied 
artioar. the Cooper made fast a peice of riging to the pumps and 
took it round himfelf and held the end in his hands so as to Call off 
when he thought proper, at lad finding that the veffel was a coming 
all to pieces he left go his pod at the pump and Clim up the mast 
She heeled to the Seaboard and the mafl fell and he fell under it but 
as Divine Providince ordered it, he was wadied Quite over the Veffel 
and wafhd on Shoar about Day. thefe two were all that were not 
Drownded. there was the Cap*, mate a paffenger a boy a molattoe, 
and another hand Drownded : The Veffel was Stove almoft all to 
pieces amongst 180 hogfheads of fifli there was not a Score that 
were not Stove to pieces, the men that were Saved were very much 
Jamed. one of them traveld up to Cap* : Turners Bare footed in the 
Snow the other got to M"" Hilands by the help of a boy that provi- 
dentially- found him almoft Spent the foremaft hand the boy & 
molattoe were intered in the beach the other three were kept and 
word Sent to Cape ann. A very maloncally accident indeed the 
Cap* & mate married two Sifters M"" Grofvenor noticed this Ship- 
wreck in his prayer & Sermon he inform'd us that there was 14 
Deaths in this pariffi Last year In the year 1773 there was 17 Deaths 
in this Parrifti 

January the 2^. Day In the forenoon, ] Curried : In the after- 
noon, I took out the remainder of my old Leather : and put in the 
Second fare of hides, into the Lime fat two or three Sleds went up 

into the woods this Day Cap' gannets one Last night I Sat up 

'till Eleven o Clock 

3. In the forenoon I turn'd out Exceltrees for Clockwork. In the 
afternoon I fleflicd 10 Sides 

4th I went to meeting to See them Vendue the pews 

5th. January in the afternoon I Went to Cohaffet to hear a 

Lector [Lecture] concerning the troubles of the times the Rev* M* 
Brown took for his text the 19"^ verfe of the 14*'' Chapter of Romans 
the words you may Look and read at your Leafure but however leaft 
you Should forget to look [for] them I will e'an pen them Down and 
they are as follows. Let us follow after the tilings that make for 



32 2 Lawrence Litchfield and LLis Descendants,. 



peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. They Sang 
three times the first time they Sang the first part of the 34*'\ psalm in 
the Tune that is Called the 34"\ Through all the Changing Scenes, 
&c we had a dance at Richard Kilbys 

6"'. lyOt and 1 Drefl flax. I brok out Enough to make 7''' he- 
Swingled 3 1/2 pounds Daniel made A pair of half boots for Seth 
merritt. 

7*''. J liang'd out my tand leather and try'd to Dry it Some but the 
weather was So freezing cold that it Did not Dry much I>ot went 
into the woods to git Some wood willi the old mare and Steals he 
broke down one Side of the Sled. ..... 

8. Being Sabbath Day I went to meeting the text was in the 
Prophefy of Ifaiah 55^^ ch & 6'^' A''erfe 

9^''. In the forenoon I put a Spring upon Fathers Clock to make it 

Strike harder. Daniel and Lot got wood with the Great mare. 

In the Afternoon we fixed the horfe-sled & Shod the ox Sled 

the ground aboute 1/3 Coverd with Snow & Ice Last Evening I 
Staid at home went to bed aboute 12°*^ Slept 7 hours 

10'^ I wrought a little in the Clockmakeing Bufinefs Dan- 
iel Shoemade This morning Died M"^ William Southworth 

[probably of Family No. 20, page 120] of a Very Short Illnefs he 
was at meeting Last Sabbath It is thought that he Died of an Apo- 
plexy 

January the 11, We went to the Training field by the rev. 

m"" Barns's meeting houfe the Lower, Middle and upper Companeys 
of the millitia of this town met there under arms in order to Enlist 
minyte-men after we were Embodied and marchd Some the three 
Companyes w^ere Marchd into the meeting house for to hear a Lector. 
The Rev"" M"" Barnes went to pray[e]r then there v.'as Sang the two 
first Stanzas of the 144*'' psalm after which the ReV M"" Grofvenor 
Preachd a Sermon his text Second of Chronicles 17^^: i8''m Ready 
prepared for the war. It was generally Concluded that he talk'd 
very well after the Sermon m"" Grofvenor made a Short prayer after 
which they Sang two Stanzas in the 101*' psalm Then we were 
marched out of the meeting house and Embodied again and then 
they beat iip for Men to Enlift as minute men there was aboute 66 
men Enlified and / was one amongfl t/tem that Enlijled we marchd 
into the meeting houfe and adjurnd from there to Lan[d]lord fofters 
there we Chofc three off[i]cers To wit M"" John Clapp for a Cap* M"" 
Nathanel Winflow first Lieutenant and M"^ Hayward Pierce Second 
Lieutenant and adjurnd till next wednefsday to tlie Same place &c 



Fijlh Gfncration. 323 

the weather very pleafant for the time of the year 1 got home 

from training aboiite midnight 



12*^': I Curried a little but Did no great for I was prety much 
Jamb'^. this Day the Remains of M"" William Southworth were In- 
tercd M/ Jofeph Whitcom Lost a young Child a day or two ago 

i3«'' : I finifhd off a Little Leather. Daniel and Seth Shoemade 

Lot & frau'^^ Dref'd out flax Lieutenant Hayward Pierce Came 

to See me and Spent the Evening with me. I Sold him a Side of 
Soal Leather at o : S'^ : 6 old ten"" per pound. ...... 

14"' I workd at the tanhoufe I fleflid 11 Sides Daniel and 

Lot got Some wood with the two mares. Father Sold one bufliel of 
Corn for 4= L m : viz ;^i-io-o °''^ t"^"' a bufhel of Rie at the Same 
rate to M^ Jonathan Turner Ensign 

January 15"' : It Being Sabbath Day I went to meeting The 

Rev"" M"" Grofvenor Preachd he took his text in the Gofpel accord- 
ing to S' : Mark 13^^ Chapter and 36'^ Verfe 

16**^: I Rode aboute town upon buifinefs first I Rode to 

Daniels, then to uncle Nicholas's [Family No. 29], from thence to M"" 
Jonathan Browns, from there to M/. Gathelos Cowings, from thence 
to Coufm Elifha Litchfields, from thence to jNI"" Ifsachar Wades from 
thence to nT" Dones from thence to unc [Uncle] Will'" Colliers there I 
went to Dinner from thence I Rode to M'' Hayward Peirces. Hay- 
ward Being with me we Went Down to the harbour to ]\I/ Watermans 
Shop, and Bought Cockades from the Shop we v/ent to My Sam' : 
Bryants from there I Came to Un*^ Nicholas's from thence to Daniels 
from thence I Came home aboute 1 h paft Eleven oclock in the 
Evening 

17^'^: I .Shaved Leather, tv.'o Sides two Shoulders, and a piece 
Alfo I fielhd Seven or nine Sides 

18'^ : In the after[noon] we went to Town meeting which 

was to Come into Some meafures Relative to the minute men they 
paffed a Vote not to Raife any mony at prefent but that they might 
in Some future time If they Saw Caufe. they had the Affociation of 
the Continential Congrefs prefented to the people to Sign almofl all 
them that v;ere there Signed it young and old 1 for one. from the 
meeting houfe the minute men and Cap' Clapp and others Went 
Down to Landlord fofters Agreable to an ajournment Voted Last 
Wedneffday to Chufe the officers there wer[e] So Many inlifled As 
to inhance the number to 88 we paffed a Vote to Divide into two 
Companies 44 men in Each the upper Company Chofe all their 
olficiers but we Got a little Divide'^ after we had made Some Choices 



324 Lawrence Litchfield and LLis Descendants. 



and adjournd till next monda}' at one oclock to the Same place Viz 
Landlord Foflers Etce [See Deane's LList. Scitiiate, pp. 134, 135.] 

January the 19"' I Wrought at the tanhoufe Graining over 

hides &^c. Daniel and Seth Shoemade 

2 i^t In the forenoon, T help'd M*" Willcut grind a Raizor ; we ground 
upon it aboute three hours : and then It Did not quite pleafc me how- 
ever, I made it Cut, and Shaved him with it. In the afternoon, I 
wrought up chamber 

20"' I turnd out wheels for a Clock. 

22:1 wet\t'to meeting: the ReV. M^ Barnes preached, he took his 
text, in the Epiftle to the Romans ; the 5 . th : Chapter, 7th : and 8th : 
Verfes 

23*5 : In the forenoon, I wrought a little in Clock-work: In the 
afternoon, Daniel and I, went up to Lan[d]lord Foflers; to a meet- 
ing upon an adjournment from last Wednefsday ; in order to make 
choice of officiers, for the Lower companey of minute men : We made 
choice of M'' Samuel Stockbridge Jun"" : [Fam.ily No. 58] for Captain, 
M"" Hayward Peirce for firft Lieutenant : and M'' Pickle Cufliing for 
Second Lieutenant, M^ Ifrael Nichols first Sergant : they Chose vie f or 
the Second Sergant W Rolon Turner for the third Sergeant and M*" 
William Loring fourth Sergant the following men for Corperals Viz 

Mefs^ : Ira Briant, Benj^ Wade, Eleazer Peaks, & David Turner. 

this Day one Aflier a Negro man Belonging to M"" Stephen Otis had 
his Trial at Landlord foflers for Breaking up M"" Watermans Shop 
the Sabbath Day night before Laft he Stole goods to a Confiderable 
Value the most of which M''. Waterman hath got again, the Negros 
mafler agreed to give M''. Waterman, £.6 : 13:4. Lawfull money, and 
pay all Charges, which added to the above ^.6 : 13-4 made aboute 
ten pounds the winter hitherto has been Very favourable in- 
deed there has been but Very little Snow this winter I guefs not 
more than 6 Inches 

January the 24'^: In the forenoon, I Curried a little Leather 

James c*c Lot made a Small yoak, for the Stears : Daniel & Seth Shoe- 
made In the Afternoon We Excerfised at Daniels Viz of the 

M[inu]te M[e]n Sergant I[srae]l L[itchfiel]d Z[adoc]k D[amo]n, 
D[anie]l L[itchriel]d, E[lish]a L[itchfiel]d 

25"' I Whitened off Leather 

2 6t'i 1 Curried. Aboute Eight oclock in the Evening Ed- 
mund Silvafter Came here from Chefterfield he Sat out Lall tuesda}' 
morning he has not been here this two or three Years before he 
brings news that il is a general time of helth at Chellerfield. 



Fifth Gmeration. 325 



iboule with l''dniund In 

the afternoon we Excerfifed at Daniels of the ni[inu]te in[e]n tliere 

was my Self D[anie]l L[itchfiel]d & Z[adoc]k D[amo]n and 

Benj-^ Wade Benj'\ & J wrestled together. Uncle Nicholas Sold his 
mare for 96 --i 5^-0 old tennor She is a little red or greyifh white 
faced mare: no going at all hardly. She is aboute Eleven years old 
I think that he Soald her prety well fackto'' factorum 

28'^ Edmund went up river to See his mother I unhaird g 

Sides Fatlier, Lot & fran^^ Cut wood at mount hope we obtaind our 
Lafl thursdays Paper in which there is the American Congrefs's Peti- 
tion to his Majesty George the III'^. as alfo the begining of one John 
Collins's account of himfelf M"" Quins account of Scolland [? Scot- 
land] and many other Curious notions 

zcf^ I went to meeting, the Rev"" M'' Grofvenor Preachd the text 
was in Philippians 2^ Chap' i^' and 2^ Verfes 

January the 30"' .....' I Curried, at night We went up to Lieu- 
tennent Pickel Cufhing Capt Sam". Stockbridge Jun"^ and Lieuten- 
ant Ilayward Pierce were there We hear that the Tories are 

almost Sick of the Regulars at Marshfield but then they have got 
them and there they mufl keep them 

31^' we viz: myfelf D[aniel], A[mos], Z[adock], E[lisha], and 2 or 
three more met and Excerfifed at D[aniers] 

31^' I Curried: oflF Leather. Daniel, Edmund M'' Ellmes and Amos 
went to hingham and bought powder at 16^ Shillings old ten'' per 
pound 

February the firfl in the forenoon Father Daniel & Lot cut 

Buflies before the Door paflure Daniel and Lot and I went to train. 
ing with the rest of Cap' Stockbridges Company of minute men we 
met at m'' Jofliua Clapps in the Evening Lieutenant Pierce and Ben- 
jamin Wade and I went to m"" Abial Turners there was a fine parcel 
of ladies there to wit : Mrs Rachel Barnes Mrs fofler mr^ Randal &:c. 

2** In the forenoon I holpd git wood. Daniel went up to Sam 
Stockbridges Ephraim alfo In the afternoon I wrought up Chamber. 

this Evening the Conjucal Ceremony was Celebrated between 

mr Jodiua Bryant and W^ Abial Stockbridge they Did not make 
much of a weding as I hear Daniel and Ephraim Litchfield [Family 
No. 74] hapned to be there Not knov/ing of the weeding. 

3^, I wrought in the Clock-makeing bufinefs Father Daniel lx)t 

and Francis Cut-bufhes In the paflure before the Door In the 

afternoon I went to Daniels to Excerfys the M[inut]e m[e]n but none 
of them Came. Job Cowing Jun"^ Here he paid Edmund [?] 



326 Lawrence IJtchfieJd a/nf Jlis Deseenilatits. 



4"'-. the folks viz Father, Daniel, Lot, & frank Cut bufhes I 
wrought in Clockwork 

5''\ Being Sabbath Day Father 1 Eclnumd Lot & fran^ Went to 

meeting the text was taken in Luke 2^. Chapter 25*-'' M"^^ 

Little was prayed for this Evening She Departed this Life to be 
intered on Wednefday 

6'^: In the forenoon I Curried In the afternoon we excerfised at 
Daniels of the minute men there was D[anie]l & Z[adock] & A[mos] 

& E[lisha] tSi my S[el]f in the Evening Daniel, Edmund, M^ 

Elmes & I. went over to Si"" Stoddards : there was James, and James 
Cufliing we Staid there till one oClock in the morning 

7*'' : In the forenoon I wrought up Chamber in the afternoon I 
wrought at the tanhoufe Daniel and the reft Cut buflies before (Viz 

in the pasture before) the Door we hear that the Regulars and 

Tories keep a watch at marflifield. 

8''' In'the afternoon Edmund and I went to the Funeral of 

M"^ Little there was a great many People there in the Evening 
Daniel Lieutenant Pierce and 1 went up to Captain Stockbridges 
we were Splendidly Entertaind We Eat the fatest mutton that Ever 
I Saw the Quarter weigh'* 18 pounds, it Cut near 2 Inches thick 
upon the rib there was the Clerk of the minute Company (viz Dea- 
con Elifha James) and the Reft of the officiers at Cap* Stockbridges 

February : the . 9*'' In the forenoon I wrought in the Clock 

making buifmefs In the afternoon the minute men (viz thofe 

of them that are under my tuifhon) Excerfifed at Daniels to wit 
Z[adock]. Daniel. E[lisha], Amos Etce 

10*'': uncle Ifaac [Fajnily No. 34] was here and we Settled the 

affair with Reference to Edmund [Sylvester] Concerning 4-10-0 old ten 

11*'' In the forenoon I went over to ISI'' Willcuts Shop and he & I 
made a Centre bitt to bore a Cartridge box. I Bored off one Box. 

a little before night Cap* Stockbridge [Family No. 58] and 

Sarah and their two Children Sammy and betty they Came Down in 
a Whorre. Yefterday or the Day before uncle John Whitcom Sold 
his mare for fifty four Dollars : (She is almolt Nine years old) 

i2*'» In the forenoon Cap* Stockbridge and I went to meeting the 

text was in p[r]overbs 27*^' Chapter and first Verfe a purpofe 

of marrage Between M"' Jofeph Cud worth of Scituate and M"^ Elifa- 
beth Souther of CohalTet was made manifift by a Peice of written 
paper which we Call a Publilliment It was Sat up in the mens 
poarch I think that that is \X\^ first piibHJJiment that has been Sat up 
in the poarch towards night Sa'^': and Sarah went home 



Fijth Gcnerafion. 327 



i3«'': In the afternoon We went to training we met at M"" James 
Jenkins's the Weather prety Cold there was but aboute one third 
of the Comp''» after training Cap', Stockbridge & Lieu' Cufliing and 
others Went to Lieu' Pierces 

14 I made me a Cartridge-box, I Covered it with a Coltskin ii will 
Carry ig Rounds 

\Sidc entry in Diary, wriftai upright, says r^ 

Monday Edmund [Sylvester] went to his mother's 1 Since hear 
that he and his wives mother -Sat out for Cheflerfield with a worrey 
the 14''' viz tuefday 

15"': We went to training we met at M"" James Jenkinss again 
there was allmoft the whole Company of minute men that met this 
Day But the weather was So inclement that We Could not Excerfife 

much Except marching and whealing there is but Little Snow 

But people are So much in want of wood that they Sledded prety 
much Our Folks kept account of 32 Loads that went by the houfc. 



February the i6''» I wrought upon Cartradges Boxes and 

Jobb'd aboute 

17"': I wrought in Clock-work a Notching Clock wheels. Daniel 
and Scth Shoemade Lot and Francis went and helped James Draw 

a log to the Saw^ mill out of his pallure Last Night I hear that 

M/ CONSIDER MERRITT Was MARRIED to M^^ : SARAH 

BIlALS of Cohaffet M"" Benj=^ Bealss Daughter this Day aboute 

24 men Enlifted as part of a Company Calld rangers 

18'''. In the forenoon I wrought in Clockwork James and Lot got 
in Some hay In the afternoon James and Lot Shod the Sled and I 
tapd a pair of pumps for my Self I Nailed on the tayjs I drove in 
into both Shoes aboute 116 Nails. 

19"': Was Sabbath day I went to meeting M-^ Grofvenor made his 

improvement to his Last Sabbaths Sermon. In the affternoon 

He took his text in the Epiftle of James the 3^^ Chapter and the 5"' 
& 6'" Verfes 

20*''. In the forenoon I broke flax enough for 6 or 7 pounds 

I hear that Stephen otis Departed this Life Last Sattuiday Daniel 
Jenkins Lost one of his twin Children Last week 

21-' In the forenoon I went up to Cap' Stockbridges to get Some 
oyl: in the afternoon Cap' Stockbridges Company traind by J[ames] 
J[enkins's] 

2 2'^ I Did a few Jobbs &c 

23'' I Jobbed aboute 



328 Lawrmce Litchfield and His Desccndanis. 

24"^ I wrought at Daniels a Leathering a Catoos [cartouch] Box 

I hear that Dwelly C[l]aps wife is [? dead] and 

Na"': Wades J"""" wife Died this week 

25th 1 wrought with Cap' Sam'' Stockhridge a makeing cartridge 
boxes 

26^'' Was SalDballi day 1 went to meeting the Rev^ M"" Grofvenor 
Preached he had the Latter part of the 35"' verfe of the 12*'' Chap' 

of S' Matlliew in the afternoon the text began at the 5''' verfe 

of the 3^^ Cliapter of James and Containd Six or Eight verfes M"" 
John foffter Came into the meeting lioufe and took out Tho'" Peirce 
Jun"^ to tend his Daughter She is Sick with y^ Small pox 

February the 27'''. Laft night Amos and I Lodg'd at Cap'. Stock- 
bridges in order to Set out Early this morning with him for Bofton 
which we did : we Sat out from his houfe aboute a Quarter before two 
oClock in die morning. - — we arived as far as Cowings in Brantree by 
the break of Day, we Stop'd there Near an hour then we proceeded on 
our Journey. I got Shoe Sot on my horfe It Coft me Six Coppars 
the Next Stop that we made was at Vefes [? Veazies] Near milton 
bridges where we fed our horfes we Sat out from there, and we were 
obliged to go the Lower way* thro' Do[r]cheiler b[e]caufe the Small-pox 
was upon the upper Roadf we arived at Boflon b[e]tween 3 & 9 oClock 
in y'^ morn we put our horfes in y^ Widdow Hatches yard we Let 
them eat no hay at all, we proceeded to our bufinefs about Town. 1 
bought me a Back Sword or Cutlefs [cutlass] it Coft me ten Shillings 
Lawfull money Cap' Stockbridge bought a hide and an half of 
Moofe skin for Catoos box Straps it Cofl him ^16.10^. o'^' old tennor^ 
we got our Dinner at the widdow Hatches it Coft us 18 Coppars apeice 
(Viz one Shilling Lawfull or 0-7^-6^ old ten) we Sat out home from 
Bofton aboute four oClock P.M. we got to the Bridges in milton 
aboute Sundown we Stopd there 'till almoft Daylight dawn waiting 
for a man of Jiingham at Laft we Sat out from the mills and we made 
no more Stops till we got to Theophelus Cufliings in hingham the 
wind blew from about S : \N' very Chilly they had a very warm fire 
I sat down Clofe to it at Laft the heat of the fire overcame me and 
1 fainted away as Dead as a Stone and fell down Like a log I Re- 
vived twife and fainted away again at Last with Some Sorts of Drops 
they set me too then 1 took a little air and walked the Room aboute 
20 minutes then we Sot out from there and got to Cap' Stockbridges 
a Quater before 12 oClock at night there Amos and I Staid all Night 
Being Something fateagued with our Journey 

* Now Adams Street and a part of Dudley Street. t Now Washington Street. 



Fifth Generation. 329 



28"' In the forenoon 1 Staid at Cap' Stock'"': In the afternoon 

we traind in Lieutenant Cufliings field there was but forty of 

tliis Company that met there 

Marcli 1*' I wrought with Cap* Stockbridge a Stamping Covers for 

Catoos boxes Iray Bryand [Biyant] was at work Leathering 

them 

March, the Second 1 Staid at Siockbiidgcs this Day 

makeing woods for Catoos boxes 

3"^ I Shaved off and Stuffed out Some Leather 

4**^ I wrought at the tanhoufe 

5''' Was Sabbath Day 1 went to meeting ...... 

6*'': was our march meeting day I went to meeting they Chofe 
all their "J own ofificiers they Cho/c Father [Josiah,'' Fandly No. 28] Sur- 
vcyor of higJnvays after the town bufmefs was over Nathan Cufliirig 
Esq"" made a tine Speech he Spoke by the Space of near an hour 
there was Elijah Curtis a'nd David Little there Nov.- we Call tlieni 
torys the Esq"". Spoke So Clofely that it made the tory's nearly 
tremble after the meeting was over I went to Deacon baylcys from 
thence to hayward Peirces and Sang about Six hours 

7*^ In the forenoon I wrought upon Catoos boxes in the afternoon 
we went to training met at Lieutenant Culliings the Cap* and both the 
Lieutenants were gone to hanover in order to Choofe field officiets 
Nichols & I and Turner Wet the Company a little Cost 2": 4*: 11^ 
old ten after training wc had a little Dannce at Abial Turners Ju"" 

8'h I whitned oii Some Leather Lot and P^rancies plowd 

in the Evening I Cast Some bullets in Sand 

9*'' I Curried Some and wrought at the tanhoufe Lot and Francies 
Plowd in the forenoon but Daniel and Lot in the afternoon 

10*^ I Scoured up my gun in the Evening I went up to Cap* 

Stockbridges &c 

II*'' Amos and I went over to Ilezekiah Hutfon to git our guns 
takled up he put in a New main-fpring into my Lock we went by 
the way of king Street hutfons wife Lay at the point of Death.. 1 
[saw] Several flocks of wild geefe fly to day 

March the 12*'' : This Day was Sabbath day I went to 

meeting. 'J'iie Rev'' ]\L. Barnes Preached : He took his text in tlic 
first Epiille of Peter the first Chapter the 17*^ Verfe 

13**^ In the forenoon 1 made my Sword Belt and Bayonet belt Jn 
the afternoon We went to training We met at Lieutenant Pickcle 
Cufhings 

14*'^ I wrought all day in the Clock-makeing bufinefs Ycfter- 

day Daniel fet Some pelts from Bracketts Viz 10 or a 13 



330 Lawrence Litchfield and His Desccitdants. 



15 in the forenoon I wrought in the Clock makeing bufinefs in the 
afternoon I wrought at the tanhoufe 1 put in four Sides 

March the 16"^ AD 1775* This day I went to meeting It being a 
day vSat apart for falling and Prayer By Recommendation of our 
Provincial Congrefs. — M"" Grofvenor took his text in the 85"^ psalm 
the 4^'', 5"' 6^'^ 7"' 8''' & 9"' Verfes we had no Singing in the fore- 
noon in the afternoon we Sang twife 

17''' I wrought in the houfe &;c 

18"' I wrought in the Chamber M'' Simeon Wade Departed 

this Life he hath Been 111 as to his health this great While he 

Died this Evening 

Sabbath 19''', I went to meeting IM"^ Grofvenor took for his text 
the first Claufe of the 41^' Verfe of the 26"' Chapter of Matthew 

20''' in the afternoon I went to training We met at Lieut 

Pickle Cufliings we fired three Volleys Cap^ Stockbridge Shot at a 

mark aboute 12 or 14 Rods and hit it Exactly within an Inch 

at night I went to m'' homes's to Sing 

March the 21^' I Wrought upon my gun I Spent the whole 

day a Scowering her & Cleaning the Lock and fixing her after 1 had 
Clean^ and oyl'd the Lock I Put in a good flint and try'd her to Burn 
three Corns of powder I Cock'd her and Snapd and She burnd them 
I told out Juft three Corns and try'd her again and She burnd it So I 
tiy'd her Eleven times Succefiively and She burnt three Corns of 
powder Every time and Did not mifs the 12*'' time She mifsed them 
But I overhauld and Cockd her and She burnt them the next time 
then I try'd her to burn a Single Corn of powder and She Catchd a 
Single Corn four times Succeffively after that : the fifth time She 
niiffd a Single Corn, but I over hauld her again and She burnt it the 
next time 

22^ [and] 23<^ I wrought in the Clockmakeing bufinefs and Sat up 
a Clock and Sat her to going aboute Nine oClock P M. this Clock 
I Defign for one M"" Seth Soaper at the Eftward being Spoke to to 
make one for him by mr Elijah Stoddard he being his factor I am 
mistaken it was yesterday that I Sat the Clock up. this Day [23d] 
1 made a pair of hands for the Clock 

24*'' Mrs Ann Turner Came here I made a paper face for 

my Clock &c 

25 I Sat up a black weather Cock upon the barn with the 

Date of the year (17 7 5) v/rit with white paint on Each Side 



FAST DAY" was wriUen perpendicularly at the Ifft side of this entry. 



FiftJi Generation. 331 

March the 26**^ Sabbath day I went to meeting one M'' 

Shaw Preachd (he being a Schoolmafter) he took for his text the 13'^ 
\'erfe of the first Chapter of St. John the Evengalist the words you 
may look at your Leafure 1 Call'd m'' Shaw a Strong Calvinift 

27''': I Curried I^eather the Weather cool 

28 I wro[u]ght in Clock-work makeing the Strikeing part for my 
Soaper Clock 

29 I Curried off a Side of Leather for m"" Jofhua Bate and Did 

Sundr}' other Jobbs I went over to M"" Jofliua Bates's to Carry 

home a Side of Leather I Borrow'd a tune Call'd the North wind 
adapted to I)"" Wats's Sapphick Ode. 

30*'' In the forenoon I Rode down to Ivf Nat*" Wades and saw 
Abednego make Brafes for Caps, this Day I got my Leather Cap M''^ 
Benj-^. Clapps Daughter made it it Cost three pistereens. I \ven.t 
from Wades to the meeting houfe to meet with the Singers they were 
not all there So we adjoumd the meeting till Next thursday Evening 
at M'^ W'": Haydens. Nathanel Mott buried 

31 I wrought upon my Clock makeing the S[t]rikeing part 

April the first I work'd upon the Strikeing part of my Soaj^er Clock 

2^^ I went to meeting M"" Grofvenor preachd he took his te,\t In 
the Book of Job the 14"' Chap' and 10''' Verfe 

3^' in the afternoon We went to training we met at i)ickel Culh- 
ings there was aboute 40 of us that met Serg"'* 2^ Day 

4^'^ [and] 5''^ I wrought in Clockwork makeing the Strikeing part .... 

April the 6''^ I Finifh'd the Strikeing part of my S[oape]r 

Clock and sat her up & Sat her to going I think that the makeing 
the Strikeing part has Cost me a little be'ter than Seven Days worke 

In the Evening I went Down to M"" W"i: Haydens the harbe- 

leans [? harborites] Did not attend So we Did not Do any bufinefs 
I^tce 

7''',, I Wrought at the tanhoufe & ground a bed of Bark and Laid 
away Both fatts of Leather y^ is y^ i-*^* time 

8''' I Curried a little : and Stamp'd a Cover for a Catoos Box for 
Seth merritt Jun"": the weather Cool In the Evening one of my 
teeth ach'd a good Deal, aboute 9 o Clock I went to bed and Layd 
& Roled and turnd too tSc fro till a little before ten then I got up 
and Built a fire and Sat till almost Eleven oClock then I went Down 
to Neiniah's [Merritt's] and had the tooth puUd out ; It Came out 
very Eafyly I gave him a Pistereen I got home again a little be- 
fore midnight and went to bed and Slept well 

9*'', I went to meeting M'': Grofvenor Preachd 



332 Lawroicc I.itchfidd aiul His Descendants. 



lo*'' In the Afternoon I went Down to M"" Nath': Wade's 

Seinor : and PZngrav'd one Brafs in the Evening I went to M' Will'" 
Haydens In order to meet the Reft of the propr[i]etors to Settle Some 
affairs Relative to faceing & Seeting our Selves they got the Vote 
fo; tlie Singers to face the minifter when they Sang and We Chofe 
out of the Body a Committee Confisting of the following Gentlemen 
to wit Cap* Infign Otis Mefs"": W"' Hayden Lawrence Litchfield 
[Family No. 121] Ncmiah Merritt Jofhua Otis &• Benj^ Bailey they 
made their Report to the body w[h]ich was accepted (mind by the 
way that before this Comittce went out we had agreed that five of the 
Bass & five of the lennor Do Set in a Seet) the Report of the Comit- 
tee is as follows towards the weon.ien Viz at the right hand Was Seated 
m"" W"': Haydon Next to him Viz at his Left hand M"" James Turner 
Jun"^ Next m"" Jofhua otis Jun"" {there appears to be a hiatus at this 
place'] at the right Hand of the Bafs m"" Hay ward pierce next Cap' 
Infign Otis next Daniel Litchf'^, A^ext my Self next Eliflia Lappum 
thefe are to fill the fore Seet after the meeting broke up I went 
home with Abednego Wade 

April the 11'*^ I Wrought with M"" : Abednego Wade a make- 

ing Brafses for Capps he and I Engraved 17 or ]8 and tlie rest of 
them Pollifhd them of[f] I Did Not Come home this night 

12*'' I wro[u]ght with Abednego Makeing Cap brafses 

i3i'> in the morning I Came home from M*". Nathanel Wades 

In the afternoon we went to training We met at M'' Jcfliua C'liijip;. 
Cap' Turners Company of Rangers Likewife met at M7 Clapps We 
march'd from there up to the Liberty tree, where we met Cap' John 
Clapps Company of Minute UTin the three Companies Drew up in 
Battallion & were Excerfised By Major Jacobs. 

14'^'; I was poorly we got a pine Log to the Sawmill f(ir James 
and I got Some Beach Clapboards Saw'd for Clockwork 

i5''» 1 Did a few Small Jobbs Being Something ])oorIy James i\; 
Daniel plow'd for John Elmes Mary Peck Lodgd here 

16''' I went to meeting the Rev^ M"' Shute preaclid In the fore- 
noon he took his text in the Gofpel acording to S' John the Evenga- 

list 3'' Chapter & 19 In the afternoon he took his text in the 

Book of Job the 22'' Chapter 21*' Verfe I hear that there is good 

News (Jome from England. 

17 1 wend [went] Dov;n to Abednego ^^'ades I Wrought Almost 
all day upon a Circle for a Clock 

18 I wrought with Abednego Makeing Br[a]fses for Caps I was 
Something unwell 



Fifth Generation. 333 

April the ig"' A D J-J-/S Last Night 1 Slept aboute 4 or 4 1/2 
hours 1 got up this morning at three oclock to go up to moors forge 
to a general Review of our Regiment of minute men We went upon 
ilie I/ines aboute Eleven oClock there was 9 or 10 Companeys of us 
tho' before we v»'ent upon the lines a minister (I think they Calld him 
m"" hitchcock) Went to prayer with us firstly tho' there was Sang a 
psalm I think that it was two Stanzas <&: an half in the iS«'' psalm IJe- 
gining with the 32^* Verfe The major Excerfifed us a little while then 
the Battallion v.-as Uifmifsd for half an hour to go to Dinner then we were 
Calld to amis again by the Beat of Drums While we were Runing to 
our Several places, — M"" Rolin Turner hapned to Run upon the arms 
Belonging to a Bridgwater Company the Century [Sentry] that was 
Set over their arms Did not Speak to him to Defirc him to go off 
from the arms but imeadately Charged their Bayonets upon him they 
prickd him in three places one Bayonet Struck him on the Side of 
his Deg Just above the calif it Struck the bone he Received an- 
other wound in his thigh \j-est of line has been blotted out] We at 
first thought that he was worfe wounded than he was this Second 
Spell we were Excerfifed aboute 2 or 3 liours then the Battallion Was 
Dismiffd but Just as the Battallion was Difmiffd there Came word 
from a post that the Regulars were marchd out of Boflon and were a 
fighting with our people in Concord when we first heard the rurnor 
Some Discredited it and Some Believed it we heard that aboute 
12 00 of the Kings troops went up Cambridge River in boats and 
I-anded at watertown bridge and marchd towards Concord where our 
magizene Is kept it is Suppofed with intent to take our ammunition 
& Deftroy our provifion they got very near to the magizene before 
our people Could make any head against them, our people began to 
gether the Regular officiers Commanded them to dispcrce & ordered 
the Regulars to fire upon them which they did and killd Six of our 
people upon the Spot then our people to the number of aboute 400 
gave them Battle & Caufed them to retreat till a Reinforcement of the 
Regulars Came up to their aflfistance then the Regulars made a Stand 
and our people were rather worfled till more of our people Came up 
10 their aflistance then the Regulars Retreeted and our people fought 
theui till they Retreated Clean down to Charlestown hill there the 
fight Ceaf'd. according to the Befl intelligence that J Can get it is 
Said tliat there was 34 -of our people killd and of the Regulars aboute 
300 killd and taken prifners the Regulars in their retreet Burn'd 
Some houfes and Did Some other mifchieffs [Compare these daily 
entries with those in Rev. Pauls Litchfield's Diary, Eamily No. 99.] 



334 Lawrence Lifc/ifcld and His Descendants. 



We got home from the muster aboute 9 oclock we Expe[c]ted to 
be muflered Before morning accordingly we were for aboute 12 
o Clock William Corlile Came here from Cap' Stockbridge with 
orders to me to Larrum the Street 1 jiroceeded Down as far as Cal- 
vin pierces and ordered them to meet at upriver meeting houfe by tlie 
Sun an hour high Compleat in arms with 4 Days provifio 1 

April the 2ot'' Ann' 1775. Last night & this morning the whole 
town was Allarm'd in confequence of the Battle that xvas fought in 
Concord yejterday Three Companyes of this town met at upriver 
meeting houfe the Bell rung and the people Colected from Every 
part we Staid there till past Noon then we marched down to the 
the lov.cr meeting [houfe] there we Sat our gaurds and incamp^. 
the word of parole was Infpection there went a grand gaurd Con- 
fisting of 40 men to patrole Down upon the third Clift under the Com- 
mand of Cap' Infign Otis they took 5 or 6 torys to wit D^ Charles 
Stockbridge David Little Elijah Curtis Benj^ James Jun"" vVc, — 1 
Slept aboute an hour and an half I was in a very 111 State of health 
this morning and remain unwell yet we hear that Col Cotton of 
Plymouth has marchd his Regiment into marflifield to obfcrve the 
Regulars that are there the N" of the Regulars that there is at 

marflifield is aboute 120 

21 In the morning We wa[i]ted upon the prifners down to Deacon 
Baileys and a number of us went to Brecfast there upon freecost 1 
had Chocolate for brecfast aboute 10 oClock we were Calld to arms 
Colonel [John] Bailey* was Down with us and ordered the Company 
of Rangers thai were under Cap' \\'"': \_nafne blotted, bnt j'rol>al'h\ 
Turner] and our Minute Company under the Command of Cap' Sam" 
Stockbridge Jun"" (tho' properly the Rangers were under Collonel 
Thomas yet Collonel Thomas had given Col Bailey orders to Com- 
mand them at this time) Colonel Bailey I Say ordered our Companey 
the Rangers & Cap' Galen Clapps Comjxany to march up to Wales's 
to gaurd a Cannon down to marflifield. we were very Loath to go 
b[e]caufe there was Several tenders playing off and on upon our Coafts 
however we were obliged to go So we marchd up to upriver meet- 
ing houfe and Joind Cap' Galen Claps Company we marchd up to 
wales's and took the Cannon under our protection we march'd from 
Wales's to D"" [Jeremiah] Hallsf in pembroke there we heard a 
rumur that there was 500 Regulars Landing 'in Scituate We Sent 
posts to the Co' for Leave to march Back to Scituate, which after we 

* See page 110, Family No. 14. j See page 109, Family No. 14. 



Fifth Gencraiioii. 335 

had marc'' aboute a mile beyond D'' Halls the major Came to us and 
ordered us to march back to Scituate. the Sun was aboute an hour 
high \vc marchd Down to upriver meeting houfe where we heard 
that there was nothing in the rumur of mens Landing in Scituate but 
that the Regulars were embarked on board a tender and gone off 
We encampd this night at upriver meeting houfe and Sat our gaurds 
the word of parole was Hancock I Slept aboute an hour & 1/2 we 
heard this morning that Last night the regulars fired upon our gaurd 
and killd one of them and took the other but this news was Contri- 
dicted in a few hours 'tho' yet we heard that tl- ' 

Last night and Difmifd this morning; ,"'' _ 

April the 22^ Lafl night three Companyes of us Lodgd at 

upriver meeting houfe in the morning we musterd up and went to 
the houfes Round aboute there and got our Brecfafts I went to 
Brecfast at M"" Hawke Cufhings we had Chocolate for breckfast 
after Breckfast we were Calld to arms and our Company was Difmiffd 
till four oClock this afternoon the reft of the Companye's were Dif- 
mifs'd J Came home and Staid a few hours then we went up to the 
meeting houfe we marchd from there Down to the harbour, we 
went to m"" Jofhua Otis's We Sat our gaurds two men upon the 
Ceder point and Six upon the third Clift and a Ce[n]tury at the Door 
the word of parole was pembroke I Slept aboute two hours. 

23 this Day Being Sabbath Day I was not very well for this is the 
fifth Day that I have been under arms the Cap* Dan[i]el and my 
Self and Some others went to Breckfast at m*" Eli Curtiss M"" Job 

and Ignatious Vinal gave us a Dram round in the morning. this 

morning a file of men Came to us out of Cap* Galen Claps Company 
and brought Fredrick Handerfon for us to keep under gaurd The 
most part of our Company went to meeting under arms Cap* Infign 
Otiss Company Calld the royal Americans went to meeting under 
arms alfo. our Company Sat in the weflcrly part of the Body of the 
Sects the Royal Americans Sat in the Easterly part of the Body of 
Sects. 1 never Saw Such a Sight in the meeting upon a Sabbath 
Day 1 Suppofe that there was Near 150 men under arms. The 
Rev"" M"" John Brown of Cohaffet Preachd to us he took the whole 
of the 123 psalm for his text I think that he talkd very well upon 
the Subject and occation At noon I went to Lieutennant Hayward 
Pierces and got a good Dinner and Shaved my face. After meet- 
ing aboute 20 men of our Company went to Supper at M^ Increace 
Claps the refl of the Company went Down to the harbour and thofe 
that wen I to Supper at m'' Claps got to the harbour aboute Sun Down 



33^ Lcnvrcnce LUchficld and His Descendanls. 

the weather Dull and foggy this Night Lieutenant Pierce & Calvin 
Pierce & I went to Supper at Cap' Barkers and Lodgd there this is 
the first night that I have Lodgd in a Bed Since Last wednefsday 
night I Lay on bed aboute 2 hours I think it Very Remarkable 
that I have Stood the hardships that I have gone through 

April the 24"^ In the morning we Saw Several Veffels off 

the harbour. We Shifted our Quarters from M"" Otis's to the widdow 
Chittendens houce there we had two rooms and a Chamber given 
up to us we fixed places to Lay upon after this manner we got a 
pine board and Sawed it off Jufb Long Enough to Reach accrofs the 
Room and fasned it up aboute Six feet from the wall then we put in 
Straw and Borrowed an old Sail and Spread over we had Some 
Narrow Sacks filld with Straw for BoUlers w[h"lich maid a very Con- 
venient place to Lodge upon we had Either Blankets or Great Coats 

to cover our Selves with Cap« Stockbridge went to Marflifield 

and Colonel Bayley ordered him to take all the tory's in Scituate to- 
morrow and gaurd them to marfhfield the weather this Day very 
pleafant I got my breckfast at M"" Eli Curtis's I eat my Dinner 

out of my pack this Night I Layd upon the Straw above Spoke 

of. 

25*'^ In the morning Cap* Stockbridge Divided his Company into 
Several parties to go after Tories I went alone to D' Charles Stock- 
bridges and invited him to go over to marflifield he was Very Ready 
to go So I went to Breckfast with him and then we Sat out and went 

over to marflifield. the Rest of our Company muflered up 30 or 

40 tories and gaurded them over to marflifield there they were Ex- 
amin'd By the officiers Some of them were Let go upon parole of 
honour Some to appear there again Next friday without fail unlefs 
their Examination is adjournd But five of the tories wer[e] ordered 
to be gaurded up to the Congrefs there to be Examind the names 
of thofe that were to be Sent to Congrefs are as follows Eredreck 
llanderfon, Charles Stockbridge Elijah Curtis and David Little, they 
are to Set out tomorrow morning this night they are to be gaurded 
at D"" Charles Stockbridges as we were Comuig Back to the harbour 
we met Isaac Buck he Enquired of us whether thofe men that were 
Calld tory's were not Defired to go to niarshfield we told him that 
they were So he kept along: (N : B : he is Calld a tory) our Com- 

miffion officiers Staid all Night at marfhfield. we had pork and 

Beens for Supper 

April the 26''' In the moming (the officiers being at marfli- 
field) 1 ordered the Drummer to Beat to arms 1 Excerfifed the Com- 



tii..;,-:^. 



1535202 



\;, 



Jnfth Gcucrniion. 337 



pany we marchd Down to watermans Shop and got a Dram Round 
we paraded a spel and then went to our quarter and Eat our Break- 
fasts we had hard Bread and Chocolate for breckfast then we 
Scoured up our firelocks and Calld out to Excercife we Stood to it 
till almost noon then I DifmifTd the Company for Dinner we had 
Stued pork and Beens for Dinner after dinner we Refted awhile 
then we Calld out to Excerfife we Excercifed till almost night then 
tlie Capt Came to us and told us that if 12 of us would Come out of 
the Companey to Stay and keep gaurd the Rest of the Company 
might go to their Several homes and appear at the harbour next Sat- 
urday Night accordingly twelve of us agreed to Stay Including the 

Caj^ain to wit Cap^ Stockbridge, my Self, Atwood moot [Mott] 

Confider merritt Ira Bryant Amos Dunber Ezra hayden Elifha Litch- 
field Jun'' Jonathan hollowell Benj» gannet Barker Cufliing and Sam- 
uel Brown Jun"" we hear that the governor propofes to the Inhabbi- 
tants of Boflon that if they will give up their arms the gates of Bofton 
Shall be opened and the Inhabitants of bofton Shall have Liberty to 
go out we hear that they have agreed to give up their arms 

2)*^' the Cap*5 ancle was very much Swelld and very Lame indeed 

We Excercifed Some the word of parole was pembroke M"" 

]>arker Cudiing and M"" Ira Bryant Stood the first watch Down upon 
the Ceder point they Stood half the Night then M^ Atwood Mott cS: 
Dunber Relieved them M"" Benj^ Gannet and I Stood the Latter part 
of the Night Down upon the third Clifft toward Day I was taken 
Very poorley Sick this Day we have heard a good many fiying 
Stories. 

28''' In the morning we Saw the Tor/ Sloop off against the har- 
bour with her Deks Covered with men we got our Breckfasts then 
8 or 10 of [us] went Down to the fourth Clift but before we had got 
Ihcie the tory's had Landed all their weomen and Children they 
Landed them allmost against the fery when we had got within 
aboule half a mile of the place where they Landed we Saw the Torys 
Boat Coming afliour then we all put into a run but the Boat went on- 
board before we Could git to her then we went over the fery to 
marlhficld the tory Sloop went to the Southward of the mouth of the 
river an.d it was Suspected that they were Lauding tory's Capt Stock- 
bridge was ordered to take a Boat and 15 or 16 men with him and go 
Down the river and See But when we Came where we Sufpectcd 
they were Landing we Could Not find out that there was any tories 
Landed After we had traveld aboute a mile to the Southward of 
the mouth of the river the wind Breezing up at S E the tory Sloop 



;S Lawrence Litchfcld and His Descendants. 



hung out a flag and fired a gun an[d] Shaped her Courfe for Boflon 
then we returned to our Boat But the tide run So rapidly that we 
Could not Stem it So we watcd about two hours then after a very 
hard Scrabble we got up to the ferry went over and Returnd to the 
harbour Ezra Hayden Being Cook he had a good Supper Ready 
for us. 

29"^ Laft Night when the first Ce[n]tury Came back from the 
Cedar point (Sam" Brown Jun"^ was afleep he ought to have bean 
upon watch at the Door) I Say when they Came back the[y] found 
that Brown was afleep they Came into the houfe Softly and took 
out Eight guns then they mufi:ered up Cap* Stock'" and three more 
to go upon gaurd they muftered up and when they Came to Look 
for their guns they Could not find them then Brown was almost 
Scare'd to Death to think that the guns were Carried off in his watch 
he was So Scared that he Stood all the reft of the Night and never 

offered to Call anybody to relieve him. this Day we Excerfifed a 

little the weather pleafant we hear that when the tory Sloop went 
by the rocks at Cohaffet there was Levi Bates Zealus Bates and Rich- 
ard Kilby in a boat Near gull Ledge and the tory Sloop Came very 
near them and fired ten or a Dozzen guns at them they Saw the 
Balls Strike the water a little Short of them a little Before night the 
mofl; of our Company met at the harbour and Lieutenant Pierce and 
a party of men took our bufinefs upon them and we 12 that have had 
the watch went to our homes 

30'^. Sabbath Day I w-ent to meeting I'he Rev"" M"^ Barnes 
Preachd he took his text in the first Book of Kings the 20"' Chapter 

and the Last part of the n*'^ Verfe I faw M"" Jonathan Pierce* 

and M*^ Elijah Worner [Warner]* at meeting they heard of the Late 
battle with the regulars Last fryday a week ago. More than 50 min- 
ute men in the town of Chefterfield Sat out Down to Bofton they 
arived at Roxbury the tuesday following pirce [Pierce] Said that he 
was very much tired with the Journey he told me that our friends 
at Chesterfield are all well he Says that Bathfheba [Family No. 66] 
was Condemnd homefick Last winter 

May the first Day Ann°. 1775 ] Refted and Recruted myself and 
wrouglit a little in the Evening Lot Caught a few herrings. — 

2*^ in the moniing Lot went and Caught a few herrings after which 
we went Down to the harbour the whole of the Company was crderd 
to meet this Day : aboute 40 of us met and Excerfifed : and V>'ent to 

* See Faniiliey Nos. 82 and 83. 



Fifth Generation. 339 



Dinner at the Barrack after Dinner we were Calk! out and Dismiffd 
all but 18 that Chofe to Stay to keep gaurd there Came up a Squall 
of rain and we went into mother motts houfe after awhile it Slack'd 
and We Came home, after we Got home Daniel and Lot and Amos 
went after Herrings Lot Caught about 7 Dozzen Francies Caught 
21 IXizzen It is thought that there has been 10 or 12 Barrills of 
herrings Caught this Day : 

3'' Jnmes and Daniel finifhd Plowing the field below the 

houfe : I^ot and I Fettered ten Sheep the peach trees in their 

bloom the apj:)le trees nearly leavd out the beach buds a good Deal 
Swelld 

4**^ Daniel, Lot and francis Went to work over to James's with the 
team Father Carried the blue Cloath to the Mill J mended my 
Naild Shoes and hardned a Raizor and ground it and honed it and 
Shaved my Self I am unwell yet 

May the fifth Day Last Night Daniel was very 111 this Day 

Lot and francis wrought With James at Cohaffet Father got a plow- 
fhear mended and went to mill. In the forenoon I w-ent Down to the 
Widdow Stephenfons (her hufband w^as buried the Day before yefter- 
day — he Died of a Confumtion) I Bought four yards of fine Cloath to 
make me a Shirt I gave twenty Shillings old tennor per yard I 
Bought Sb: Bottles of Snuff 1 gave two Dollars for them I Bought 
a Cake of Ink w[hjich [is] this Ink that thefe Lines are wrote witli I 
gave 13 1/2 Coppars. the Cak[e] was made by S : Norton 

May the 6^'' This day Daniel and Francis Wrought With 

James Father went to mill. Lot hung out Some herrings 

Ycflerday when 1 was Down to Cohaffet I heard that Governor Gage 
has Sent all the arms belonging to the Boftonians that are good for 

any thing Down to Caflle Williams. I hear that there is a Ke- 

belHon in Ireland But as to the truth of it I Cant Say But in my mind 
it wants Some Confirmation I alfo hear that Lord North is Be- 
headed But I fear that there Is no Such good News that will prove 
true 

M[ay] 7''' Sabbath Day I Went to meeting the ReV: M"" Grof- 
venor Prcach'd to us he took his text in the first Epiflle Generel of 
Peter the 1^' Chapter and 8'*^ Yerfe 

8"' In the morning I Went Down to M"^ Sam" Litchfield's [Family 
Xo. 39] and bought an old Brafs kettle I gave a Dollar for It It 
Weigh'd Seven pounds and an half From there I Went Down to 
Abednego Wades I Wrought there making a Dial Circle for a Clock 
face. A little Before Night He and I Went over to D'' Charles Stock- 



34° Lawrence Likhfuld and His Descendants. 



bridges's Abednego had a tooth Drawed he gave the five Shillings 
for Drawing it In the Evening We went over to M'' Ho[l]nies's 

there We Sang Some We hear that (Yea we are Well allured 

of it) that the Gaurd at the harbour took four Tory's one was old 
Daniel White cNcc they took them out of A veffel in the harbour they 
Came in Last night. After our people had got on board the Yeffel 
the torys talkd Very high our people afkd tliem whether they had 
any guns or Ammunition on Board : they told them that they had 
none at all but that Did not Satisfy them So they Sarched the Veffel 
and found four guns on board Charged and four Powder horns of 
Powder & two Cags of Powder alfo : It is Said that the whole Quan- 
tity of Powder was aboute forty Weight they found Balls nearly an- 
swerable to the powder they took the torys under Cuftody. 

9''' I wrought with Abednego Wade makeing a Dial plaie for a 
Clock-face and cuting Braffes for Caps 

A SCENE OF HORROK 

The Port of Bofton all blockd up with Ships of war & tenders 
The town with Savage Regulars & Still more Vile Commanders 

May the 10''' In the Afternoon I went to Upriver meeting 

lioufe there was five Companies Belonging to this town met there. 
Cap* Stockbridge Beat up for Volinteer[s] to go into the Standing 
army the Company was to Confifl of 56 men Sergents Included he 
beat round and the men thronged out and filld the Company imedi- 
ately After Cap* Stockbridge had got his Company one M"" Nath' 
Winflow Being a Lieutinant in Cap* John Claps Company of minute- 
men Beat up for Volinteers and there Was aboute 4 Enlifled under 
him: Last monday Penelope [Litchfield — Family No. 74] Came 
here and tv.'O of her Children People Begin to plant Some People 
have moil Done 

ijth Was a Day Sat apart for Fafling and Prayr By order of the 

Congrefs M^ Manffield a tuturer in the [Harvard] CoUedge 

made a prayer AP Grofvenor preachd He Took his text in the 
Lementations of Jeremiah the first Chapter and the first and Second 

Verfes. How Doth the City Sit Solitary that was full of people 

how is She become as a widdow ! [Etc.] [Boston is meant.] there 
was the New Enlifted Soldiers at meeting under arms : the Sermons 
that m* Grofvenor preachd I think were Very Extreordinary and Ef- 
fecting He Shed tears him Self and many of his hearers Notis was 
given of the funeral of Deacon Thomas Peirce he Departed this 



Fifth Gencraiion. 341 



Life Last Night I gues tiiat he was Near 80 Years old the 

luiieral is to be Next Saturday at three o C 

i6'h James and Daniel I i^^: Lot Wrought upon tlie Uland field 
Sleding Stones 

May the 12^'^; Day 1 went Down to M'' Nathanel Wades I 

Cut out Brafses Abednego [Wade] Sat out for Cambridge to work 
in y^ gunfmith bufmefs Li the evening 1 walked over to m"" cud- 
worths 

13*'^: 1 wrought at M''. Wades makeing Cap Jiraffes for the marfli- 
field men 

14''': Sabbath Day I went to meeting one M"" Mansfield Preachd. 
In the forenoon he took his text in the Book of Judges the Sixth Chap- 
ter and the 13''^ Verfe In the afternoon he took his text in 

W 

upon the Illand a Diging and hailing off Stones Many of the 

appletrees Cherey trees &c are full out in bloflom 

17"^: I went Down to M'' : Nathanel Wades there I finifii'd oft" 
Some Braffcs for Caps And ground Fathers Raizor and Sofned my 
Raizor and ground it. In the Evening We Saw a great I^ight aboute 
in the Range of Boflon which made us Sufpect that Bofton was on 
fire : the Light Continued till pafl ten o'Clock in the Evening then we 
went to bed : I got up a little Paft the break of Day the moon Shone 
\'ery bright and I Could not Discover any Light where I obferved it 
Laft night : I Came home and Look'd out upon Every Emenence but 
1 Could not Difcover any Light or Smoke. I hear that Cap' Stock- 
bridges Company Pafl Mufler this Day I hear that they have had 
Jonathan Hollowell under Gaurd &c 

May the 18"': 1775 : James, Daniel my Self, Lot, Francis and Joab 
[Family No. 195] Wrought down upon the Ifland Breaking up New- 
ground we had Eight Cattle and an horfe one pair of them Be- 
longed to John Elmes Whiles we were plowing in the after- 
noon Uncle Whitcom Came to us and told us that a man brought 
News to Cohaffet that Yen;erday at five oclock in the afternoon the 

town of Boflon took fire : but by what Means he Did not hear. 

this Evening at 3/4 of an hour pafl Eight o Clock I went out and 
Look'd to See if there was any Light towards Eofton but I Cannot Dis- 
cover any therefore I Conclude that the fire at Boflon is Extinguifh'd. 

19* Day we broke up new ground upon the Ifland we got to 
work aboute Six oClock in the morning we Left off work aboute 
half paR EIe\en o Clock in the forenoon In the afternoon we 



34^ Lmvrericc Litchfield and His Dcscaidanfs. 

finifh'd breaking up the Ifland field whiles we were Plowing in the 
afternoon M' William Brooks Came to us and Inform'd us that [he] 
heard that there was 40 Houfes Burnd in l^ofton the Day before 
yefterday 

20"' They planted the Ifland field and Plow'd the potatoe-yard and 
planted it I ground bark and lay'd away the Leather 

2J==t this Day being Sabbath Day the Morning Cool I Rid l)o\vn 
to the meeting houfe Jufl; as I had got off from my Colt and was a 
puting on the halter I Saw a Couple of men Came Rideing up to the 
meeting houfe from towards hammans upon the full run they and 
their horfes were all of a Sweat one of the men was John Sutton 
Jun"" the other Was Tho"' Studley. they told us that there was tw^o 
Ships at hingham a Landing Regulars as thick as graflioppers (they 
/. e. Sutton & Studly Came only from Cohaffet) they tokl us that the 
Cohaffet Company had marchd off for Hingham : M' Grofvenov had 
not Began his Excerfife when Sutton Came to the meeting houfe the 
people all Rush'd out of the meeting-houfe to hear the news, thus 
being allarm'd we all went home and got our guns : we Expected that 
Capt Stockbridges Company of Inlifted men & our Company of Min- 
ute men under the Command of Lieutenant Pierce would march Ime- 
diately over to hingham So Lieutenant Pierce ordered thofe of us that 
Lived up this way to Come home and fix ourfelves atul march Down 
to Cohaffet and there to join our Company If they were ordered to 
march So Daniel and I and Lot and Amos and John Whitcom Came 
home and got our guns Catoos boxes knapfacks &c and went Down 
to Cohaffet as we \\ent Down acrofl the paflure, the weomen were 
Sitting Down upon the Rocks Looking out. we traveled on till v.e 
got Down to M"" Jofiah Okes's there we met M'' obadiah Lincoln he 
Came Directly from Hingham. he told us that there Avas no men 
Landing at Hingham. but they v/ere Landed upon Grape Ifland 
aboute 20 or 30 Regulars to be Seen they were Carting hay and 
boating it on board two Large Sloops that Lay to Receive it there 
was alfo a tender Lay there to gaurd them he told us that the peo- 
ple from Waymouth point fired at the Carters as they Avere Driveing 
their Carts we hear that there was No men kill'd upon either Side, 
when tJie tide floats the Lighters our People fixed out 3 or 4 of 'em cS: 
Sail'd towards the Island w[h]ich the Regulars Seeing they Imbark'd, 
made Sail and put off as fast as poffible I Saw the Light of a fire in 
the Evening till 3/4*'' past Nine oClock I have Since heard that our 
people Sat fire to a Large Barn filld with hay Contai[ni]ng 70 or So 
tuns of hay 



Fifth Generation. 343 



aa**: In the afternoon Daniel and I went to M"" Joshua 

Clapps agreeable to a warrant Defiring the old Compy of minute men 
\v[h]ich Cap' Stockbridge Left [to meet] in order to Chufe ofilcers 
:ind form anew but the weather being So dull there was but few 
ihat met So we adjournd till next monday. 

23"^ I Stuff'd a Saddle and fixed my things In order to Setoul for 
Chelierfield tomorrow Morning 

A JOURNAL OF A JOURNEY TO CHKSTERKIELD 

May 24'^ About 1/2 an hour before Sunrife Amos and 1 Sat out 
for Chefterfield the firft Stop that we made was at Browns in milton 
there we fed our horses out of our bags & bought 1/2 a mug of VV. I. 
lodde £o~2s-o old ten we went from there to Smith's in Wefton 
our horfes Eat hay an hour 0:4.0 we Bought half a mug of Weft 
India todde there it Coft -us 0-2-6 we Went from there to Sipping 
Hows in Marlbro' 12 miles oated & bought 1/2 mug todde 0-2-6 
we went from hows to martins in Northbr°. 9 Miles oated & Bought 
1/2 a mug of todde 0-2-6 we Stop'^ no more till we put up at Cap' 
Curtiss in Worcefler 8 miles from martinss our horfes Coft us 5s 6^ 
apiece our Lodging 2s apiece milk given in 0-15-0 we got aboute 
Seventy miles this Day my mare Scarce Sweat a hair only under 
the Saddle Amos his mare Sweat more than mine & he got prety 
tired I Rode the great Barren Red mare the Weather Something 
iiot &r dry 

SECOND DAY OF OUR JOURNEY 

25th. We Sat out from Cap' Curtis's in Worcefter aboute an hour 
before Sunrife the first Stop that we made was at Whittemores in 
Spencer 14 miles from Curtiss to half a mug* of Cyder 0-0-10 we 
Stopd at Waites in Brookfield got our Breckfasts of Roaft beef Cost 
us 0-9-0 oated our horfes 1/2 mug of Cyder 1-3 we Stopd at 
packards in Brooktield fed cur horfes and bought 1/2 mug of Cyder 
0-1:3: we Stopd at Rogers in Ware (oated) and got 1/2 mug of 
Cyder 0-1-3 ^^ "^^t John Ewell at three o Clock Betwen Rogerss 
and Esq Hows in Belchertown we Stop'd and talked with him Some 
time . we put up our horfes at Dwights in Belchertown to hay 1/2 an 
hour ;^o-2j--6 old ten'' we Bought aboute two thirds of a mug 
of Cyder there it Coft us 0-2-1 we Stop'd at Whites Calld in y«= 
Almanach Smiths i)i Amherft oated our horfes &: bought 1/2 mug 

•^ The diarist adds this footnote: " N : I? : we liad all our Cyder mixd with 
^Vater & Sweetned." 



344 Lawrence Litchfield atid His Descendants. 

Cyder 0-1-3 we Rid from there to goodmans in Hadley there we 
put up for Night in good Seafon we Eat a Quart of milk for our 
Supper Coft — 0-1-3 horfes — 0-10-0 

THIRD DAYS JOURNEY 

May 26"' 1775 In the morning the Sun a little heighth mc got Fer- 
red over the River Cost for ferrage 0-4-2 we Stopd at the Widdow 
Edwards's Aboute 8 oClock in the morning Amos and 1 Bought 
Each of us a poringer of Bread and milk 0:2:6 both of us we 
Drove our horfes from the foot of boflcams hill till we got to Jacobs 
[his brother's] we got there betwixt 9 & 10 oClock : both of our 
Expences the whol going up £7) • 4-^ • ^^ o^^ t^" Jacobs Wife was 
Very poorly Jacob midling hearty Staid there y^ day the weather 

this Journey hath been tolerable comfortable but warm our 

whole Expence. for the Journey was £7^ : 5 : 10 old ten 

2^th v\^e went to Edmunds Saw him plant thenfe to Benj* 
Pierces and back to Jacobs I Lodgd with Edmund [Sylvester] this 
Night, A^ [Amos] at Jacobs the weather warm and Dry: Corn 
Cheap Viz 2*: Lawful per Bufliel : Butter Six pence per pound : Sugar 
Six pence per pound Labour two Shillings per Day ; & other things, 
I [s]uppore proportionate 

28*'^ Was Sabbath Day: I went to meeting they had no Minefter 
Deacon May Went to prayer and Red a Sermon. At Noon I went 
to M"" Worners [Elijah Warner's] After meeting at Night I \\'ent 
to M'' Jonathan Pierces Staid all Night 

29'^ Jonathan Pierce & I Went a viffiting we went to mfs John 
Phersons [?] Ichobud Dammans, Jewells mrs Elefabeth Perreys & 
Cap* Stcpliefons And back to Pierces to Diner After diner I Went 
back to Edmunds and Jacobs : I Lodgd with Jacob Weather Veiy 
hot 

30th: I Staid at Jacobs all Day and Amos and I Lodgd there Poll 
[wife of Pierce] & Jon-"^ Pierce were at Jacobs upon a Viffit 

31st I made a Lid for a Chefl; for Jacob. 

June I*' I made & put up Some Shelves Jacob Rode my mare 
into Hampton * 

2^ Jacob and Amos went over to Jon^ Peirces &c a Viffiting 1 fet 
M"^ Sarah Ewell and Edmunds wife to Jacobs. &c 

3"^ I Carried Edmunds wife over to Mfs Benj-* Bryants Confider 
Bryants Jofhua Rogerfis & Malichy Ewells we went to Diner at Ben 
Bryants we Eat Salmon Edmund went with us on foot 



Prohably Northajnpton. 



Fifth Generation. 345 



June the 4th Sabbath Day Jacob & amos Went to Meet- 
ing I to Amos 5r Caleb Damons. 

A JOURNAL OF A JOURNEY FROM CHESTERFIELD TO SCITUATE 

June 5*'\ we Sat out from Jacobs Sun aboute 1/2 an hour high 
Stop'd at Peirces & both the Baileys Cost us all for ferrege j^o- 
5-1-1/2 (mind that Eathflieba was with Amos and I) Stopd at 
Whites beer o o-io We Stop'' at Esqu"^ Hows in Belchertown 1/2 
mug of Cyder — 0-1-3 We put out our Dorfes to Grafs at Chad- 
wicks in Weflern [now Warren] ^0-2-6 We went to Dinner upon 
fry'd Veal Coft us 0-13-3 ^^ '^ P'^'^ '^P '^^ Waites in Brookfield 
]>odging 6j. Horfe at grafs 0-7-6 

SECOND DAYS JOURNEY. 

6 We Sat out from ^^'ailes the Sun Some height Am* & I Eat 
milk 0-1-3 Stop'd at Sargents in Liefler and oated. Bought 1/2 
mug of Cy'^ 0-1-3 Stopd at Martins's in Northbro' 2/3 of a mug 
Cyder — 0-1-8 Stopd at Williams's Ditto & oated & bought a mug 
of Cyder o-i \o\ We put up at Bents in Sudbury our Lodging & 
liorfes Coft 0-14-0 

THIRD DAYS JOURNEY. 

7^*^ We Sat out from Bents a little After Sunrife we Eat Some 
pickels there o. 0-5 We Rode to Cuttings in Waltham Oated &: 
bought Jill Cherey 0-1-8 We Stopd at y^ Widdow Kents in Rox- 
bury oated went to Diner 0-18-0 We Stop'd at Brown's oated &: 
bought mug beer o-o-io We Stopd at Brackets oated &: got mug 
Cyder 0-2-6 here we Spent the Last of the oats that we brought 
with us from Chefterfield We Sat out with about 19 or 2[o] Quarts 
from Jacobs for both hor[ses] We Cou'^ not get grafs Neither here 
Nor at Kents We Stopd at Whitmarfh's Oated our horfes 0-2-6 
We Bought a Jill of Snake Root 0-2-0 We Stopd No more till We 
got home Wliich was Sometime before Sundown Something tired of 
our Journey the whol Cofl of all of us 4-3-8 

8'h I Did ,10 grait Deal of Work this Day our folks began to 
Weed the Corn : 

9^*" : I helpd weed Corn in the field by the Barn Ephraim [Litch- 
field, Family No. 74] workd with us he work'd with them Yefterday 

10*'' I helpd them hoe in the field by the barn we finiflid weeding 
il the New field upon the Ifland is most all Eat up with the worms [?] 



346 Lawrence Litchfield and LJis Descendants. 



June the 11 this Day being Sabbath Day I went to meet- 
ing the text was in Eclefiastes the g"" Chapter from y*^ 14"' to y'^ iS''' 
Yerfe 

12*'' I help'd James & Daniel Iloe in their field by Whitcoms iioed 
1/2 of it 

13''^ we finifhd Hoeing the Jonne field in the forenoon. — In the 
afternoon Daniel c't I went Down to Cohaffet their old Milit>' [mili- 
tia] met &:c 

14'*' I began to make a thing to grind Raizors Daniel Shoeinade 

15*'' I workd upon the Same: I>afl Saturday night Uncle John 
Came here from Cambridge 

1 6*"^ I wrought upon my turning Wheel. 

\June'] TJ [j'/zS] '• I got out fellows for my wheel : We heard an 
uncommon fireing to wards Bofton Allday in the afternoon they 
fired without much Ceafation we Saw a great Smoke Arife toward 
Boflon. 

18**^ was Sabbath day I went to meeting M'' Grofvenor preacli'' 
he took his tixt in the i6«i^ Chapter of S' John the 21^' Verfe ..... 
M"" Grofvenor Baptized a Child of his Elefebeth 

19**^ I made a Couple of Cartrige Boxes for Cap' Stockbridge and 
Did Some other work Daniel put up a Spout at his houfe We liear 
that there was a battle between CoP or Ge?i' Puttianis Men and i/ie 
Regulars Last Saturday \^Jujie ly] in C/iarlestown. our people had 
began an Intrenchment upon Charlestown hill which the Regulars 
beat them out of and hold it we Lost of our men 150 or 200 killd 
and Wounded of w[h]ich aboute 25 were taken prifners & Cr rried 
into bofton : According to the Beft Intilligence that we Can git the 
Regulars Lost a 1000 men killd and Wounded among w[h]ich were 
many ofhciers 

20'^ I wrought upon my Razor grinding gear 

21** James, my Self Lot &: Amos went Down to the harbour to 
Se[e] Capt Stockbridge Lot and I got Each of us a Coat and a pair 
of breeches Cut out of Blue Cloath M"": Eliflia Lappum Cut tlieni 
We paid liim twenty Shillings old ten [or] 

23*^ I wrought upon my turning gear for Raizors &:c. Daniel 

Began to mow in the Burns field Lot and father began to hr/if- 

hiU 

24*'' In the forenoon Daniel & I mowd in the burns field and upper 
field In the Afternoon I Wrought in the houfe 

June the 25*'' Sabbath day I went to meeting Tlie Rev'' 

M"" Grofvenor Preach'd He took his text in the forenoon in Job 3S''' 












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Reduced Fac-simile of Page 44 of the Litchfield Diary. 
The last line was a mistake on the part of the Diarist and is omitted on the printed page 



Fifth Gencraiio/i: 347 



C. 28th V In the afternoon he took for his text the 9th Verfe 

of the 23^ Chapter of Deuteronomy 

26''* f/ic two Sciiuate Cfl}npanics {jtinder Cap' Samuel Stockln-idge Jr 
^ Caf Naih{ Wi'iiJIcnv) marchd off to Koxbury I hear they got to 
Browns 

2yiii I wrought with James & Daniel in their field a half hilling. 

28^'' : 29''' 30 July 1^' Non tenefne memori. What I Did 

[Jul}'] 2d Sabbath Day 1 rode the Colt to meeting cSc halterd her 
& tied her to M"^ Cudworths Bars She Pulld her Self Down twice or 
thrice & Beat two holes in her head iv: Lot Rid her home at Noon 
the text in Deut 23"^ 

[3'^''] there was a meeting upon an adjournment of march meeting : 
they Voted to hire 9 men to keep gaurd upon the Coast Chofe a 
Comitee to Enlist them under Cap* Noah otis Adjournd the meet- 
ing till Next Monday. this Day I made a Gimblet for Lawrence 

Litchfield [Family No. i2"i.] 

4<'' this Day I made a Saw for my knife and Dulled away y*^ fKins 

July the 6 :* Aboute 5 oClock in the morning Lawrence Litchf"*., 
Zepheniah Cudworth, Zadock Daman, and William Studley Sat out 
for Roxbury we got to the houfe where Cap' Stockbridges Compariy 
Quarters aboute Eleven o Clock Eat our Dinners there, Walkd all 
round W'ent into the fort went Down to the Lowergaurd we Saw 
the Scars where a great many Balls from the Regulars Breftwork on 
ye Neck Bofton we l^odgd in the houfe where Cap* Stockbridge 
Quarters 

G*** aboute two oClock this mornhig all hands were Calld up and 
orderd to be under arms Imediately for they Expected the Regulars 
out But they Did not Come : Aboute 7 oClock this morning We Sat 
out for Cambridge we Saw General Putnam. : & View'd his fort all 
Round Came back to y^ punch Bool tavernf got our Dinners S'* a 
piece L I\I \Ye Came Back to the Camps in Roxbury all but Cud- 
worth he went to Salem Staid there a while then Sat out home : I 
got home aboute 10 in y^ Evening. 1 Came Round by Cohaffet 

July the 7*'': I Did No great [work] but Recruit of my 

Journey yefler Day the Veffells in the harbour and Cove Were 
Stripdt of their Sails and the Sails Carried to Roxbury for to make 
tents for the Soldiers. 

* This should be dated July the ^th. 

\ The Punch Bowl Tavern was a famous hostelry in Brookline, on what is now 
\Vashiugton Street, not far from the old Koxbury line. Some of its buildings 
^lill remain in a dilapidated state. 

i See letter of Jared Battles, page 262. 



348 Lawrence Litchfield a?id Jlis Descendants. 



8»'> : 1 Did a few Jobbs 

9'*^ Was -Sabbath Day I went to meeting the Kevi""^ m'' Grof- 
venor preachd he took his text in the first of Peter 2'^ Cliajy 7 
Verfe 

io*'> I helpd hoe a little in the Stoneheapfield 

II*'' Being the Annivcrjary of my birthday: 1 Did no great Deal 
of work only Washd Leather Bieeches &c 

xtS^ in the Afternoon We went to training at Dea*^ Eliflia James 

there was but 20 in Cap* pierce[s] Company Etce they took 

toryes on Long Lsland 

13*'' I turnd out a Handifli for Mother And Some other Jobbs. 

14*'! In the forenoon Daniel tS: I & Lot Reap'd aboute 1/3'' 

of that field before the Door, in y« af* I helpd them hill Some in y<^ 
field by the Barn and Went up to Doctor Ephraim Otis's. and bought 
4 1/2''^ of Cotton wool i6*: 6'' per pound alfo Bought Some Red 
plufli for a Jacket two y^'^^ 

j^tfi \Ye finiflid hilling hoed Some of fathers field and James & 
Daniels Jonne field & got in 51 Sheaves rie 

16: Sabbath Day: I went to meeting; the text. Isaiah 58*'', Chap- 
ter. 6 Verfe 

ly*'' I Ground Bark and Laid away the Leather &:c 

iS*'' Daniel, I, Lot, & Francis Reap'd the Rem^ of y'^ field before 
the Door & the Winter rie in y^ Kolley field 

ig*'' they got in the Rie they alfo got in Some h.iy This Day 

our Representitives Chufe Counfillers 

July the 20*'' AD. 1775: This Day Was Sot apart for a Day of 
Fafijig and prayer throughout all tJie EnglifJi Colonies in North Amer- 
ica : The Rev"" M"^ Grofvenor preach'd to us He took his text in 

Jonah 3^: 10*'' Aboute 9 oCIock in the morning the Light 

houfe* was Set on fire By our Soldiers from Nantasket they Brought 
off from the Island Some people Some goods &: one barril of Powder. 
Aboute five o Clock there Came Down two or three tenders Suppofed 
in order to Land men and Drive our Soldiers off from Nantafket 
they fired about an hour Very furiously indeed they Landed no men : 
there was None of our People Killd or Wounded Except one young 
Pritcharp who had his Leg Broke & another man Slightly Wounded 
altho' they fired So fast & thick they were at a Confiderablc Dis* 

MANE TOTO TERTIUS 

21** Daniel & I & Fran*^ Reapd the orchard piece & got it in there 
was 79 Sheaves mow'' & got in Some Barley We hear that our 



* On Great Brewster Island. See King's Hand book of Boston Harbor, page 
218. 



Fifth Geiirraiioti. 349 



Packet has got back from England Some Days ago She Sat out to 
go to England April 24*'': 

22^ \ wrought in the Chamber ground a Raizor for Hezckiah 
Daniel & francis Mowd in the Swamp in the Lower pafture 

23'' I went to meeting The ReV M"" David Barnes Preached to 
us his text in Matthew the 12 Chapter and 12 Verfe 

24''' in the forenoon I Did Some Jobbs in the afternoon 1 went 
l)(i\vti to the Neck 

July the 25''' I Wrought W'ith m^ W" Collier Staid there 

all Night. 

26 I Reap''' for uncle Collier Staid all Night 

27 It raind I Staid at uncle Bills 

28 I Reapd for Collier Staid all night 

29 I Reapd & bound rie With m'^ Collier Etce 

10 Was Sabbath 1 went To meeting the Rev M"" John Brown of 
Cohaffet preachd in the fore" he took his text in the Epistles to the 

romans the 8 Chapter from the 35 to 39 Verfe Sang 5 times 

in the afternoon 29*'' Psalm 7 Ve[r]fe 

3i*t I wrought with M"" William Collier a Reaping rie 

Auguft the i^' this morning Colliers boys and I went out a filhing 
we Caught None we got in from fiflung the Sun aboute two hours 
high and I helpd the boys take up rie the Refl of the forenoon in 
the afternoon I Came home : Lothrops [Family No. 63] Wife Brought 
to bed with a boy 

2'' : I helpe'' Mow in the Swamp by the tanhoufe and git in 3 Eoads 

3'^ I Curried off a Sheepskin they finiflid giting in the fiefli hay 
Etce 

4''' r)aniel & I made a pair of Kidskin pumps for Amos and a 
pair of Sheepskin ones for me. J low long they will wear I Don't 
Know 

S'*" Lot & francis Went a Lobflering I went Down to M"^ Doans 
and Bought a Vife of him I gave two Dollers for it Alfo went 
Down to Cohaffet and bought a Coars grimllone [grindstone] of Mt 
Cudnng Kilby price 5s lod 

6 Was Sabbath Day I went to meeting text [in] Job 

7'-' I hung my Raizor gring Stone [grindstone] 

8 Daniel John Elmes & Elijah Stodder Went to Roxbury I Went 
i!p to Landlord foflers and agreed to make 20 pair of Shoes for the 
Soldiers 

9 1 ground two or three Raizors Daniel got home from R[oxbury] 
io I Jobbd aboute the mended they Cart B[ody] 



350 iMWrrncc Lifchfirld and His Dtsrendnnts. 



1 1 We Sat up the Cyder mill I Wrought Some on Clock 
work 

12*'" 1 wrought in C'lock work this afternoon we had a fine 

Showr the Lightning Split a tree to peices in the pasture before the 
door but Little ways from hollowells &:c &c 

Auguft the 13^'' Sabbath Day I Went to meeting 

the Rcv"^ M"" Baldwin of Hanover Preachd to us he took his text in 
the forenoon in Ecleciastes 8^''. C. 8"'. V, in the afternoon he took 
his text in Psalms the 84''' or 94''' psalm i2<'\ 13'^ & 141'^ Verfes 
Elce Cap' Stockbridgc Very poorly with the bloody flux Daniel 
and John Elmes were taken with the Same Disorder this Day or 
Lnst night 

i4*'i 1 wrought in Clockwork James made 4 or 5 Barrels of Cyder 
\ior7i\ Daniel was up here and walkd about Crankly ...... \toni\ went 

over to Jameii and got \torT{\ ee of Walnot In the afternoon we 
Carted Wood out of \Joni\ Swamp I went Down to Cohaffet [/w;?] 
Bought three {torrf^ of Snuff 2^-55-0'^ old ten 

[16] I wrought in Clockwork. Daniel and John KImes Kxtream 
Sick but Little hope of their Lives 

i7t'> In the forenoon I helped git fire w^ood in the afternoon I 
wrought in Clock work Daniel Seems Better Doctor there 

18^'' 1 Wrought in the Clockinaking bufinefs Daniel Very 
Sick 

19*'" Lot and I ground Scythes in order to mow in the Salt Meadow 
James Could not help us for he was obliged to affifl Itorni at Pratts 
for M"" John Pratt Departed this Life this \Jcrn'\ Morning at aboute 

two oClock. \i'^>'>'\ L>ar.iel Very Sick indeed the Doctor has 

almost given {torri] him o\er I went Down to Cohafset this Day and 
bought Some Brandy and Logwood for him Father killd a Lajub 
and boild his head and kidneys «S:c 

Augufl the 20'^': I ^^'ent to meeting the Rex' ^NI"" \Jorn'\ Grofvenor 
preach'd there was a good many folks put notes being Sick With 
the Bloody flux Daniel Sent one he Seems no better John Ellme'? 
No better, the Text this Day was in Proverbs the 27"> C. 1-' Verfe 

there has been Several folks in y'^ parrifh Died the Last week 

of the bloody iiux 'Jo wit the Wife of M"" Eli Curtis Buried Last 

week Cap* James Turners Wife \\{{orti\ Now Lays unburied, a 

Child of Jofliua Otiss Jun \toni\ [bujried this afternoon and two of 
Elifha Litchfields C[/w«]en both buried this afternoon one of them 
a boy n[/w7/]d Infign the other a girl Named Charlotte [sec Family 
No. 72.] 



Fijth Generation. 351 



2 1*': James my Self, Lot & francies mowd in the Hubbe meaddow 
l>Aniel Seems to be Verj' Low and Weak 

22^ James, my Self, Lot Francis and Daniel Cerlow Mowd on the 
I hibbc Meadow the Weather Very hot Daniel Very Sick 

23'' James I and Lot mowd on the Hubbe Meadow We finifhd It 
!>nniel Seems a little better John Elmes is Very Sick. 

24''' Lot and I mowd the Strip by the beach Father & Fran^ 
uaked on the llubbe meaddow. 

25*'' : James and I made Cyder for him this is the Second time 
I'ather and the Bo3'S Raked on the Hubbe meadow We are in hopes 
Uiat Daniel Is a growing Better John Elmes they Don't Call any 

I 'Otter there is but little hopes of his Ever going abroad again. 

juhns Wife is Sick with this Same Disorder th° not Extream bad 
Daniels Wife and Youngest Child Namely Azotus are poorely; with 
i!ie Same Disorder ..... Capt. Noah Otis Loft a Child, it Died 
With the Above S^ Diforder this Week \toni\ 

This is the last entry in the Diary of which there remains 
enough to make any connected or logical abstract. There are 
iK.Ttions of eight more pages of manuscript too incomplete for 
printing. 

Dea. Israel Litchfield was elected March 17, 1777, to the 
br-ard of selectmen w^ith Elisha Tolman and Increase Clap, when 
he was not quite twenty-four years of age, and he was re-elected 
!ii March, 1778, but was excused from serving. In October, 
1778, he was allowed ^,"5, \os. for services as selectman and 
;'.ssessor. In March, 1779, he was moderator of the town meet- 
itig, and again in March, 1784. In March, 1788, he was elected 
as one of the surveyors of highw'ays, which office he also held in 
:;oo, 1796, 1797, 1 801. In October, 1795, he was elected a 
j-chool-committeeman, and again in April, 1799, 1801, 1806, 
iSoS, 1809, 1810, 181 1, 1812, 1813, 1820. On Nov. 23, 1795, 
he serv'ed as town clerk /;y; tnn. In May, 1796, he was drawn 
as grand juror, and again in March, 1805 ; in Sept., 1815, as 
traverse juror. In March, 1799, he was chosen a hog-reeve, and 
•,-:a;n in March, 18 14. In March, i8ji, he was chosen field- 
•'\cr. lie served as a soldier in the Revolution, as shovv-n by 
'US Diary and the records at the State House, Boston (see Ap- 
l>cndix). 



35 2 Lawiciue Litchfield and His Descauiants. 



ABSTRACTS FROM SCITUATE TOWN RECORDS. 

Oct. 14, 1776. A town meeting was called "in order to know tht: 
mind of the Town whether they will Comply with the orders of the 
General Court In forming a Constitution for this State or act or do 
anytliing Else — also s'' Town Voted to Chuse a Committee to 
Draught a Vote to lay before this meeting & Voted to Chuse Elisha 
Tolman, Nath" Waterman, Increase Clap, Barnabas Little, Israel Sil- 
vester, Daniel Damon, Israel Litchfield, Klisha James & Dea. Joseph 
Baily. — s*^ Town Voted to Receive y^ Keport of y« Com''*-'-' which is 
as follows. — 

" Agreeable to a Refolve of the General Court s'^ Town Voted that 
they give their Consent that the Present House of Representatives of 
the State of y^ Mafsachufets bay. Together with the Counsel if they 
Consent in one body with the House and by Equal Voice, Should 
Prepare and agree on Such a Constitution & form of Government for 
this State as the House & Counsel afores^ on the fullest and most 
Mature Deliberation Shall Judge will Most Conduce to the Safety 
Peace & Happinefs of this State ; and then to be submitted to the 
People at Large for their Ratification and Promulgation ; or Disr.p- 
probation." 

March 17, 1777. Eleazer Litchfield, Israel Litchfield and Josiah 
Litchfield, Jr., were on the committee of " Correspondence, Inspec- 
tion <!vr Safety." (Families Nos. 32, 60 and 27.) Israel Avas elected 
again to this committee, March, 1778, 1779 and 1780. 

June, 1777. On committee to revise "Jury Box." 

Sept., 1777. On committee with Israel Turner and Eleazer Litch- 
field to procure money for raising the town's quota of soldiers. 

Apr. 17, 1787. "Said Town then made Choice of Dec" Israel 
Litchfield to be a Committee to Inquire in to the curcomftances of a 
Certain Sum of money which is in the hands of Larance Litchfield : 
which wafe the Property of one Samuel Sprague, and to Report to 
the Town at may meeting Next." There is no record of such a re 
port, in the May meeting, 

Oct. 31, 1791. On committee to notify inhabitants of the diflerent 
town districts about "setting up schools therein," 

Oct., 1792. On committee for apportionment of school money 
among the school disfricts. 

Dec, 1792. Small pox broke out in Scituate, this winter, and there 
was much discussion in town meetings regarding inoculation and the 
.sequestering of those who were sick. There was quite an element 






? 1 k'-^ 



.=*^ ^_ 



K'^>:r-, 



rff'-r^'^.i^irwNi^THilii'aiari 



Fifth Generation. 353 



favorable towards having a hospital for them. On Dec. 31st, Capt. 
Jesse Dunbar and Malachi Menitt were secured to superintend such 
a hospital, at seven shillings per day, they to find their own provis- 
ions. The temporary hospital was located at Benjamin James's. 
Strict regulations were made. Among the homes invaded by this 
dread 'disease were those of Jonathan Hatch, Jr., John Bray, and 
Widow Nichols. Eleven deaths from small-pox are recorded in the 
First Church records as having occurred in 1792-3. In j 793, the 
hospital was at Stephen Wade's. In Oct., 1793, the sum allowed 
Capt. Dunbar and Malachi Merritt, each, was £(i\(is\ od. In June, 
1793, Dea. Israel Litchfield and Lawrence (" Larance ") Litchfield 
were on a committee about getting a hospital for this plague, and 
make the regulations regarding patients, etc., — a kind of "board of 
health." 

May, 1795. On committee to inquire into the case of Bathsheba 
Southworth, a pauper. 

Oct., 1795. On committee on school districting and division of 
school money. 

March, 1796. On committee for support of poor. 

Sept., 1799. On committee pertaining to matters of North River 
bridge; and on committee to compensate soldiers for extraordinary 
military duty, Oct. 7 and 8, 1799. 

Oct. 3, 1803. "Voted that Klisha Foster, Enoch Collamore, 
'J'homas Cushing, Israel Litchfield & William Vinal be a Committee 
to Conlider what allowance is proper to be made to thofe perfons who 
is \sic'\ oblige[d] to attend the training & do attend Said Traini[n]g 
at Hallafax [Halifax, Mass.]." It was voted io allow each man $2.00, 
and that the majority vote of the men going to Halifax should deter- 
mine how the money should be spent. In the records of town meet- 
ings in April and May, 1804, it is learned that sums were allowed 
to the companies connnanded by Captains Elijah Barstow, Ebenezer 
Bailey, Benjamin T. Lane, Nathaniel Turner and Abiel Farrow, 
which show that over 200 men went to training at Halifax, Oct. 11, 
1803. 

May 12, 1S06. "Voted that thay Wold oppofe the Petition of 
Israel Litchfield and others, Relative to the Gulph Streem allwife 

fishery &c " Afterwards the town reconsidered this vote, but 

the final disposal of the petition is unknown. 

Nov. 7, 1808. '-Said Town then Voted that thay wold oppofe the 
petition of Dec" Israel Litchfield & others, Relative to laying out a 
highway from the School lioufe Near Bardin Hilands, & pafsing by 



354 Lawrence Litchfield and Lfis Descendants. 

the Houfe of Elexander Clap, & James Litchfield, & So on Northerly 
to the patent Line." On Oct, 2, 1809, it is recorded that Elijah Tur- 
ner, Esq., was appointed an Agent of the town to appear in its behalf 
at the court of Common Pleas, at Plymouth, to answer to the petition 
of Daniel Litchfield & others, for the above road. It was also voted, 
" That Lawrence Litchfield, Paul Merritt, John Collaniore & Ebene- 
zar Bailey together with the Selectmen, be a Committee to examine 
the way prayed for by Daniel Litchfield and others, and give the 
agent such Instructions relative thereto, as to them shall seem proper." 
This road, called " Litchfield Road," on the town records, was 
granted, for on Nov. 12, 1812, there is record of the following allow- 
ances to abutters : Alexander Clapp, $75.00 ; Israel Litchfield, $10.00 ; 
James Litchfield, $151.00; Cornelius Bates, $54.00; and William 
Whitcomb, $30.00. This is probably the street from Clapp's Corner 
to the Beachwpods. 

May 13, 1813. Dea. Israel Litchfield's "tan house" is mentioned 
on the records as having formerly stood on Mount Hope road. 

Apr. 6, 18 18. Israel Litchfield, Liba Litchfield and Paul Merritt 
on a committee " to inquire into the Beach woods lane and report at 
a futer meeting." On Apr. 5, 1819, it was 7/i;/t'^ " that Israel Litch- 
field, Augustus Clapp & John Collamore be a Committee to make 
particular exemination into the circumstances of the Beach Woods 
lane as respects the use of it heretofore, and what is best to be done 
with it in future and report at May Meeting." The solution of this 
matter is found in the abstracts from town meeting records in Family 
No. 57, page 286, under date of May 3, and Nov. 22, 181 9. 

April I, 1822. The Selectman, with Israel Litchfield, John Colla- 
more and Jesse Dunbar, on commitiee '• to view the way that is re- 
quested to be laid out from the causeway leading to farm Neck to the 
bridge near the Gulph mill," and make report. This is probably the 
" Neck road " to Cohasset. 

March, 1823. On committee to see about bad roads in Scituate. 

Nov. 6, 1826. " Voted to accept the following Report — The Com- 
mittee chosen to let long lane, and to settle with Deacon Israel Litch- 
field the fopmer agent, have attended that .service and report that 
Deacon Litchfield has received the hire of Long Lane for the years 
1819, 1820, 1821, 1822, & 1823, amounting to Ten Dollars, as appears 
by said Litchfields receipts in the hands of M"" Whitcom the person 
hiring. — That there is due from said Whitcom for hire of the same 
for 1824, 1825, & 1826 Seven Dollars Fifty Cents. — They ■ fur- 
ther report that Deacon Litchfield declines paying the above men- 



Fifth Gmcratioti. 355 



tinned sum received by him as agent of the Town, afligning as a 
: ,;',s'')v. ihc insufficicntcy of Ins allowance for services as Selectman 
\c. for the year one Thousand Seven Hundred & Seventy Seven — 
Scituate Nov"" 6"' 1826 John B. Turner, per order." It was voted 
that the Selectmen settle with Dea. Israel and allow him a reasonable 
compensation for his early service to the town. 

May 3, 1830. "Voted That the Selectmen be a Committee to 
view the road between Benjamin Briggs' and Dea". Israel Litchfield's, 
and make such repairs as they may think neceffary." This is the 
last mention on the town business records of Scituate of Israel^ Litch- 
field. See abstracts on pages 284 and 286. 

His )iame appears in Scituate in 1808, on a list of voters pre- 
scr\'ed at the South Scituate Savings Bank, Norwell, Mass. 

The mcst important public service of Israels Litchfield was 
tliat of Representative fo the General Court at Boston, having 
been elected to that ofifice by his fellow-citizens, in Scituate, on 
May 18, 1778 (town records) when only in his twenty-fifth year. 
See Deane's Scituate, page 107. This session of the General 
Court convened on Wednesday, May 27, 1778, and an examina- 
tion of the records, or "Journal of the Honorable Houfc of Rep- 
resentatives of the State of Massachusetts-l^ay," reveals a few 
interesting data. Among his fellow-representatives were : George 
Partridge, Esq., of Duxbury, the eminent founder of Partridge 
Academy ; Capt. Thomas Waterman, of Marshficld, and Enoch 
Lincoln and Joseph Thaxter, Jr., of Hingham. He is entered 
as "Mr." Israel Litchfield. The ses.sion was dissolved May 3, 
1779- 

Oct. 15, 1778. " Onkretf, That Mr [Ellis] Gray [of Boston], Capl. 
[ K'.bcnezer] Wales [of Dorchester] and Mr [Israel] Litchfield be a 
("ommittee to confider what Sum is proper to be paid to the Commit- 
tee for fupplying the Army with fmall Stores." Also, " The House 
pals'd a Refolve for paying the Committee for fupplying the Army 
with fmall Stores the Sum of Twelve Thou/and Pounds, to enable them 
tr> execute the Bufinefs committed to them. Sent up for Concur- 
lence." 

i'Vb. 12, 1779. 'I'he "petition of Allen Hallet, Commander of the 
'>ri-;antine I'yranicide, praying that the Board of War may be directed 
to fupply his Men with certain Articles of Cloathing,'" committed to 



3S6 Laivrencc Liichfeld and His Descendants. 

Capt. Stephen Dana of Cambridge, Daniel Whitney, Esq., of Sher- 
burne, and Mr. Israel Litchfield. 

Feb. 13, 1779. ^ "Petition of David Stebbins of Deerfield. fet- 
ting forth that he was in the public Service, gaurding Prifoners at 
Brookficld, he was taken Tick, and has been at confiderable Expence, 
and praying allowance for the same," was committed to Mr. Israel 
Litchfield, Dr. Joseph Moffat of Brimfield, and a Mr. Mun, not lo- 
cated. 

Feb. 17, 1779. A " Petition of Willis Hall, nnd Sarah his Wife, 
who was one of the Daughters and Co-Heirs of George Holmes, late 
of Boston, Diftiller, deceas'd, praying for Reafons offered that the 
Judge of Probate for the County of Suffolk may be impowered to 
grant Letters of Adminiflration on faid Holmes's Eftate." Read and 
committed to "Mr: Litchfield, Mr. \^John'\ Hancock [of Boston] and 
Major [John] Nelson [of Middleborough]." 

Israel^ Litchfield was admitted to the communion of the First 
Church (see records), July 23, 1776. Under date of June 15, 
1788, there is an entry of admission to communion of a "Sarah 
Litchfield," who is probably identical with Sarah, his first wife. 
' The record of baptisms of the children of Deacon Israel Litch- 
field has not appeared. This seems strange in view of the fact 
of his active ecclesiastical devotion. The First Church records 
are, however, incomplete at the close of the eighteenth century. 

In the records of the North Precinct, First Parish, Scituate, 
there are numerous references to the services of Israel^ Litch- 
field. In 1780, 1782, and 1784, he was on a committee to pro- 
cure preachers and see about other society matters, and at vari- 
ous times he was active in precinct affairs. In March, 1783, he 
served as moderator, and it was voted "to alow De^^ Ifrael Litch- 
field for Bording Mr Meril [a minister or candidate] and keeping 
his horse one week — £,\, o, o." On Sept. i, 1784, the pre- 
cinct voted to sell its ""Parsonage lands," and Dea. Samuel Jen- 
kins, Dea. Israel Litchfield and Barnabas Little were appointed 
a committee to investigate. This vote was confirmed in March, 
1785, and at this latter meeting, it was akso voted "to allow 
to Isreal Litchfield for going after Mr Whitman [another 
preacher] — £2, y, 3c/." In March, 1786, "for going after 



Fifth GriicrotioTK 357 



Mr [Adoniram] Judson — \Zs. March 15, 1786, Rev. Zecha- 
riah Howard received a call to become the pastor of the First 
Church, but this he declined. Dea. Israel Litchfield, Calvin 
Peirce and Barnabas Little were the committee to notify him of 
this call. In 17H7, 1788, 1790, 1791, I793, and other years, 
Dea. Israel was an auditor of the precinct treasurer's accounts. 
In July, 1787 (see First Church Records, also), he was on a 
committee to wait on Rev. Ebenezer Dawes, and, with Lieut. 
Lawrence Litchfield, Israel Vinal, Esq., Barnabas Little and 
Augustus Clap, to view the parsonage buildings and fences to 
see what repairs were needed. Ht; served as assessor in the 
precinct several years. In 1801, he was precinct clerk, and re- 
ceived one dollar for his services. In March, 1802, he was on a 
committee to confer with Rev. Nehemiah Thomas concerning his 
salary. He served on committees for repairs and improvements 
in the church edifice, regarding precinct property, assessments, 
and other matters, including the purchase of a bell, in 18 14, and 
singing in 181 7-1 8. 

There is very little mention of his name after 1826. He gave 
his note several times to cover what he owed or had promised to 
pay to the First Precinct in the matter of taxes or levies, but in 
1826, he settled his account, thus disconnecting himself legally 
from taxation b)' the First Church. Hereafter he contributed 
to the financial support of the new Congregational parish. 

Under date of Oct. 8, 1792, it is recorded on Rev, Nehemiah 
Thomas's Book of the P'irst Church, that Deacon Litchfield, 
Israel Vinal and Hayward Peirce were the committee appointed 
to invite the churches to assist in the ordination of Rev. Mr. 
Thomas, which occurred Nov. 14, 1792. 

Israels Litchfield was connected with the P'irst Church of Scit- 
uate as Deacon, from 1779 until the division* in the parish over 
the acceptance or rejection of Unitarian views, which caused 
several to establish the Trinitarian Congiegational Church in 

* See a pamphlet entitled, " A Second Series of Letters concerning the His- 
tory of the First Parish in Scituate," published in 1845, by James Munroe & Co., 
Boston, of which the compiler owns a copy, and another is in the library of tiie 
N. E. Hist. Gen. Society. 



358 Lawrence Litchfield and LLis Dcscendanfs. 



Scituate in 1824-25. Both parishes are still in active work, in 
<:^ood church edifices situated at Scituate Centre, not far apart. 

First Church Records : "At a Meeting duly warn'd : May 31, 
1779. The brethren being called uj)on to bring in their Votes 
for Deacons, Ifrael Vinal, Efq : Daniel Jenkins and Ifrael Litch- 
field, were chofcn ; they accepted and took the Deacons Seat, 
July. II. 1779." 

In the Hst of members given in the " Church Manual of the 
First Trinitarian Congi'egational Church, Scituate," is found : 
" Dea. Israel Litchfield, admitted in July, 1776, chosen deacon 
in 1778 \sic'\\ died Jan. 15, 1840." 

Hurd's History of Plyvtout/i Coimty, in sketch of Scituate, 
.says that Israel Litchfield was one of the first twelve members 
of the Scituate Congregational Church who called Rev. Paul 
Jewett to be its pastor in 1826, that he was deacon at the time, 
and continued in that office for the rest of his life. Deane's 
History of Scituate, page 58, says : "We may mention amongst 
the principal founders of this [First Trinitarian] Society, Messrs. 
Ward Litchfield [Family No. loi], Rowland Litchfield [Family 
No. 102], Deacon Israel Litchfield, Calvin Jenkins, Sen. and Jr., 
[Family 100], Levi Vinal and Charles Curtis [Family 108]." 

The records of the Trinitarian Congregational Church, at 
Scituate Centre, Mass., begin on Nov. 20, 1824. From these 
records, furnished in abstra:t by the Clerk,* we learn that there 
were many meetings held before the final separation or division 
of the two pari.shes. It is not the purpose of the compiler to 
enter into the discussion of this matter which was a cause of 
much bitter feeling for many years. Deacon Israel and 6ther 
Litchfields (who will be mentioned again in later accounts) w^ere 
active in the deliberations and sided with the Trinitarians. The 
deacon was moderator of meetings held Feb. 14, March 4, and 
April 9, 1825, and on Nov. 3, 1826, when it was ''Voted, unani- 
mously to give the Rev. Paul Jewett a Call to become our Pastor 
& to settle with us in the gospel ministry." At this last meet- 
ing, it was " Voted that Dea. Israel Litchfield & Bro. Eleazar 



*In 1906, Mrs. Julia E. Fitts, Greenbush, Ma-ss. 



Fifi?i Generation. 359 



Peakes be a committee to inform the Society of the doings of 
this Cjiurch &' request their concurrence in above call." At the 
first three of these meetings it is stated in the records that the 
deacon was chosen moderator because of the absence of Rev. 
Mr. Thomas. On March 4th, it was "■ Voted that Dea. Israel 
Litchfield, Calvin Jenkins & Augustus Cole be a committee to 
acquaint Ivev. Mr. Thomas with the doings of the Church and 
request him to record the same on the Church Book." On 
April 10, 1825, Dea. Israel was chosen with Ward Litchfield 
and Calvin Jenkins to send "letters missive " to several churches 
which were invited to a " Mutual Council to attend to the diffi- 
culties in this church," and on April 25th, it was voted that this 
same committee " be a committee to appear before the venera- 
ble council in behalf of the church," and said Council meeting 
was held on April 27th, at the house of " Roland " Litchfield. 
From the deliberations and decision of this Council, it was voted 
on April 29, 1825, "that it is expedient & proper that the rela- 
tions subsisting between this church & their present Pastor be 
dissolved, a majority of the male members of this church concur- 
ring in this vote." On Nov. 13, 1 83 1, "Sophia Litchfield daugh- 
ter of Dea. Israel, was admitted to the full communion of this 
church." The records also give the dates of the choice of Israel* 
as Deacon, of his church admission, and of his death, and are as 
before given in the Church Manual. 

It is said that Deacoji Israel Litchfield and Sarah Bailey 
(widow of Abner) were the proudest people in Scituate. The 
daughter of the one, Serissa,^ and the son of the other, Rowland 
Bailey, married (see P"'amily No. 224). Deacon Israel was of a 
mathematical turn of mind, philosophical and sober. A story of 
how a million chickens would extend from Scituate to Worcester 
is repeated by his descendants. He was quite tall, and attrac- 
tive in his personality. Strictly temperate himself, in his mature 
years he was an advocate of temperance at public meetings 
where he was gladly heard, for he was an effective speaker on 
account of his appropriate stories, quaint comments, and witti- 
cisms. He was fond of music, sang well, and indulged in writ- 
ing verse. The following stories were told to the compiler by 



360 Lawrence LUchfield and His Vescendants. 



the late William Hubbard' Litchfield of North Scituate. At 
onetime Deacon Israel had lost some sheep, and so he composed 
the following which appeared on guide-posts and in other public 
places : 

One large poll ram, 

A long-tailed lamb, 
And a pair of twins. Sir, mind tliem, 

For each of their ears, 

Like swallow-tails appears, 
Now, please tell me where 1 can find them. 

Lewis Brown, brother of " Uncle " John Brown, lately de- 
ceased in Scituate, lived at Deacon Litchfield's, when a boy. 
The Deacon was nuite inventive and was trying to impart some 
of his knowledge to Lewis, but the boy was uneasy and kept 
bobbing the candle around in his hand, while being shown how 
to do something. " Mind what you are doing," came the repri- 
mand from Mr. Litchfield. The boy replied that he did not 
care anything about what he was trying to tell hini. Then the 
Deacon retorted characteristically : 

He that thinks himself already wise 
Of course, all future learning will despise, 
But save for this how many might have been 
Just, wise, and reputable men. 

At one time, he said that the only thing that he could not 
make in a "bumblebee," was the sting. 

The following poetical effusions show the deep moral and re- 
ligious feelings of their author, as well as his strictly orthodo.x 
belief. 

I.INES* ox THE MELANCHOLY EFFECTS OF THE LATE GALE. 

On the twenty-third day of September, 

In the year eighteen hundred fifteen 
Perhaps there are few can remember 

So heavy a gale to have been. 
The morning was cloudy and windy. 

Blowing, what may be call'd a fresh brecT^e, 

*N. Coverly, Jr., Printer, Milk Street., lio.'^ton. 



Fifth Generation. 36 1 



But we apprehended no danger, 

By the falling of buildings or trees. 
At about eight o'clock in the morning, 

The wind was not far from south-east, 
It hauled by degrees to the southward, 

And every moment increased. 
Before the sun reached the meridian, 

The trees and the fences fell last, 
Trees rooted too strong to be started, 

Were broke by the force of the blast. 
Some twisted and shatter'd to pieces, 

Were forcibly thrown to the ground, 
Large branches and limbs in confusion, 

Were scatter'd extensively round. 
Fine forests were swept to destruction, 

Laid prostrate before the fierce gale, 
Rich orchard* o'erthrown or much injur'd, 

I3estruction did greatly prevail. 
Some buildings were crush'd by the tempest, 

And others were greatly annoy 'd. 
Some small ones were turn'd bottom upwards, 

And thousands of roofs were destroy'd. 
'J"he tops of the chimnies were broken, 

And thunder'd down thro' the floors, 
Astonish'd some fled from their houses, 

Escaping for life out of doors I 
The windows burst into the houses, 

How many no mortal can say. 
The sick were in imminent danger, 

Of instant destruction that day. 
The .scene was distressing at Boston, 

But wonderful 'tis to relate, 
We don't hear of many much injur'd 

By either the bricks or the slate, 
Blown off from the roofs and the chimneys, 

With violent force to the ground ; 
The people kept close in their houses, 

A traveller scarce could be found. 
The shipping that lay in harbour, 

Was damaged greatly we hear, 
Some sunk at the wharves witli their cargo. 

Bold seamen were filled with fear. 
At Taunton 'twas greatly surprising. 

To see how the river did rise, 
The bridge was materially damag'd, 

'J" he flood seemed to threaten the skies. 



3^2 Lawrence Litchfield end LLis TJescendanls. 



From Newport we have information 

That several persons were drown'd, 
O'erwhehn'd and swept off by tlie water, 

No more with their friends to he found; 
Some buildings were part fill'd with water. 

The goods of the merchants in store 
At Providence suffcr'd great damage, 

The shipping was drove on the shore. 
Tlie water rose tAvo or three fathoms, 

Above any common high tide, 
And buildings o'erthrown by the tempest. 

Were seen on the waters to ride. 
Some persons of handsome possessions, 

With plenty of treasures in store, 
Before the sun past the meridian, 

Were render'd both wretched and poor. 
- Some people suppos'd the salt water 

And air were in some measure mix'd, 
'Tis said that some miles from the ocean. 

That salt on the window was fix'd. 
Young Gushing* of Hingham was wounded, 

l\y boards quickly thrown by the gale. 
He languish'd awhile and expir'd, 
, No surgical skill could avail, 
To cure him of wounds that were fatal. 

O ! what must his relatives feel, 
To see him lie gasping and dying, 

Of wounds that no surgeon could heal. 
Let those who have suffer'd affliction 

Of late, by the elements' strife, 
Remember events are all govern'd 

By Him who has given us life. 
Submit without lisping a munnur, 

Be grateful for good that remains, 
Walk humbly, deal justly, love niercv, 

Rejoice that the Deity reigns. 
Let those who have not suffer'd damage. 

By the elements' furious rage. 
Remember who governs in wisdom 

And goodness through e\ ery age. 
And praise Him for their preservation 

From damage, destruction and death, 
Rejoice that on Mim we're de])endent 

For every blessing and breath. 

* 'lliis was IJo,-.ea Cushiiig, born Aug 15, 1792, "ki)lL-d by a board in the hut 
cane of 25 Sept., 1S15." His(. JUiigham, vol. ii: p. i6i>. 



Fifth Gtneraliou. 363 



Pursue your studies earnestly in youth, 

And treasure up a store of solid truth ; 

Use every help that comes within your reach, 

Listen with care, to that which good men teach. 

Bc-lieve not every thing that some may tell, 
Kememl)cr trutli, 'tis said, lies in a well. 
Observe good manners, — honesty in dealings, — 
O ne'er, without excuse, wound others' feelings. 
Keep yourself master of usurping passions, 
Strive to avoid all vain and foolish fashions. 

Mildness and meekness make a man respected; 
Envy and pride will make a man neglected. 
Receive instruction — come from whom it may, 
Regard the Scriptures, — search them everj' day; 
In searching them, great treasure you will find. 
That pearl of price, that satisfies the mind. 
That faith, and hope, and charity most kind. 

ACROSTICf. 

Should God preserve j-our life and grant you health 
And friends and competence or even wealth, 
Remember health and friends may .soon depart, 
And sore affiiction penetrate your heart, 
Hear good advice and steer by wisdom's chart. 

Mind and remember you were born to die, 
inquire the way that leads to joys on high, 
Never forget the judgment day will come, 
O I what a solemn tliought your final doom ! 
'Tis fit that in your heart you give it room ! 

Believe the Bible is God's holy word 
And teaches plainly how to serve the Lord, 
Informs you where the saints forever dwell. 
Let gratitude your humble bosom swell. 
Exercise faith in Christ the Lord above. 
Yield your whole heart to Him, a heart of love. 

* "An Acrostic for Paul iJiooks Merritl, coni'posed by his grandfather, Israel 
Litchfield, in his Sist year." The original was contributed by Miss Ell.^. Farmer. 
It v/as printed op yellow paper. Another copy of this acrostic, printed on white 
satin, is preserved with the original Diary of Dea. Israel Litchfield, at 18 Somer- 
set St., Boston. 

■t " A grandfather's gift to his little grandchild [Sarah Minot Bailey],, cbmposed 
by Dea. Isra<;l Litchfield. Scituate, February 9tli, 1829."- 



3^4 Lmvrcnce Litchfield and His Dcscaidants. 



ACROSTIC* 

Search carefully the Bible ev'ry day, 
Earnestly strive to find out wisdom's way. 
Read it as 'tis indeed, the word of truth, 
Imbibe its precepts in the days of youth, 
So with God's blessing it may make you wise, 
Sliow 3-ou the way that leads above the skies, 
And life eternal be your glorious prize. 

Remember wisdom's ways are pleasant ways, 
Escape the snares that Satan for you lays, 
Envy not sinners, seek their reformation, 
Dread their example, pray for their salvation. 

Deeds of the transfer of land, biiilding-.s, and other property, 
to and from Israel^ Litchfield, are foimd recorded in large num- 
ber at the registries of Plymouth and Norfolk counties, and to 
give a full account of all of these would occupy too mucli space. 
Several of his deeds, as grantor, will be found in the accounts of 
several families in this Genealogy. His name appears very often 
as a witness to signatures of Scituate deeds. The compiler has 
made the following abstracts from deeds, which give some gen- 
ealogical or local interest. 

The " Liba Litchfield Collection " f has the original deed of 
Israel Litchfield (signed, also, by Sarah Litchfield), of Scituate, 
yeoman, to Daniel LitchfiMd, Scituate, gentleman, for £,\2^ of 
" a piece of fresh rneadow land being in Scituate near mast hill 
bridge so called, containing about Fifty rods of land more or less 
bounded Southerly by the highway, Westerly & Northerly by 
land belonging to Daniel Litchfield & Easterly by land belong- 
ing to James Litchfield ; Also another piece of land laying at 



*" Composed by Dea. I.srael Litchfield, for his granddaughter, Serissa Reed." 
These last two Acrostics were sent to tlie compiler by Sarah M. Bailey. 

t Another paper in this collection a'ppsars to be the incompleted or rejected 
agreement of partidon between Jacob Wade of Waldoborough, Lincoln Co. (now 
in Maine), yeoman, on one part, and Simeon Wade and Joseph Wade, boili of 
Boston, housewrights, Jotham Wade, yeoman, George Wade, tailor, both of Scit- 
uate, of the other part, of land in Scituate. Dated, June 26, 1792. This paper 
was signed by Jacob, Jotham and George, but not by the other Wades. Israel 
Vinal and Israel Litc'ufield were witnesses. Acknowledgment, however, was 
made before Israel Vinal, J. P., on June 27th. 



Fifth Gnuralidii. 365 



ihe Northerly end of the above said meadow, containing about 
One acre & one quarter more or less, bounded Northerly & 
Southerly by land belonging to Isaac Litchfield, & Easterly by 
land belonging to James Litchfield, aforesaid." Dated, Jan. 25, 
1794. [Plymouth Co. Deeds, vol.lxxvi : p. 78.] The witnesses 
were Caleb and Daniel Newell. 

PLYMOUTH COUNTY DEEDS. 

Apr. 27, 1792. Zealous (and wife, Abigail) Bates of Cohasset, 
trader, for ^^50, to Israel Litchfield, 9 A. land in Scituate, abutted by 
Capt. Daniel Litchfield, Lothrop Litchfield, and heirs of Barnabas 
J.itchfield, deceased. Witnesses: Thomas Lothrop, Ambros Bates, 
Levi Bates, and Joshua Bates, Jr. [Vol. Ixxvii : p. 256.] 

Jan. 20, 1794. Levi Newell (and Ruih, his wife), James Newell 
(and Ehzabeth, his wife) and Joshua Newell, all of Scituate. yeomen, 
for £^2, to Israel Litchfield, 8 A. Scituate land near dwelling house 
of Elizabeth Litchfield [widow of James, Family No. 62]. \^Ttnesses : 
Caleb and Daniel Newell. [Vol. Ixxvi: p. 269.] 

Sept. 4, 1794. Israel (and wife, Sarah) I^itchfield. fui £(yo, to 
Elijah Litchfield, Scituate, yeoman, 10 1/4 A. 31 rds. orchard, tillage 
and pasture-land, north of Daniel Collier's house. Witnesses: Daniel 
and Silas Litchfield. [Vol. Ixxvii : p. 40.] 

Apr. 14, 1795 (recorded). Elijah (and Elizabeth, his wife) Litch- 
field, Scituate, for ^60, to Israel Litchfield, 9 1/2 A. land near gran- 
tee's dwelling-house. Witnesses : Daniel and Josiah Litchfield. [Vol. 
Ixxvi: p. 270.] See settlement of estate of Jamess Litchfield, Family 
No. 62. 

Apr. 6, 1797. Israel (and wife, Sarah) Lhchfield, for $267, to 
Cornelius Bates of Dummerston, Vt., 10 A. Scituate land near dwell- 
ing of Sarah Whitcomb. Witnesses: Daniel and Sibae Litchfield. 
[Vol. cvi: p. 73.] 

July 4, 1806. Isaac Litchfield (of Family No. 81) and wife, Sally, 
for ^250, to Israel Litchfield, " one half of a Dwelling House being 
in Common and undivided between me the said Isaac Litchfield and 
James Litchfield and all the Land to me belonging Contigious there- 
to," a piece of 20 rds. near house of Alexander Clap; also, another 
piece, 2 1/2 A. of Land near dwelling house of John Litchfield, abut- 
ted by highway and by land of Stephen Litchfield, of wife of Seth 
Stodder, Jr., and of Hannah Litchfield. Witnesses: James Litchfield 
and Jesaniah Bates. [Vol. ciii : p. 220.] 



366 Lawrence Litchfield and His Descendants. 



Dec. 3. 1806. Israel (and wife, Fanny) Litchfield, for $635.92, to 
Elijah Litchfield, 14 A. 17 rds. pasture-land near dwelling-house of 
John VVhitcomb. Witnesses : Enos and Xoa Litchfield. [Vol. cv : 
p. 215.] 

June 14, iSo8. Samuel Stockbridgc of Cohasset, gentleman, for 
$150, to Israel Litchfield, i A. 115 rds. salt marsh "by the river that 
runneth from Lincolns landing to the gulph mill so called." Wit- 
nesses: Xoa Litchfield and John Lincoln. [Vol. cviii : p. 275.] 

Apr. 12, 1811. Israel Litchfield and wife, Fanny, for $55, to 
James Collier of Cohasset, the property of the preceding deed. Wit- 
nesses: Milton Litchfield and Anslem Lincoln. [Vol. cxxiv : p. 147.] 

May 7, 1813. Israel Litchfield, for $27, to Jaazaniah Bates of 
Scituate, yeoman, 86 rds. land near house of Paul Clapp and land of 
Job and Joab Litchfield. Witnesses: Millon and Sophia Litchfield. 
[Vol. cxx : p. 221.] 

Aug. I, 1813. Israel Litchfield, for ^4000, to John Pratt of Co- 
hasset, several pieces of property in Scituate, about 50 A. in all, on 
highway from I>awrence Litchfield, Jr., to Alexander Clapp's, abutted 
by land of Meshach, Joab, Daniel, Barnabas and Elijah Litchfield. 
[Vol. cxiii : p. 218.] 

Walter Stoddard of North Scituate has in his possession the 
original deed, dated May 12, 1792, by which was conveyed from 
Israel Litchfield, and his wife, Sarah, for £,6^, to Alexander 
Clap, five acres of land with dwelling-house, in Scituate, on the 
southerly side of the road leading westerly from Capt. Daniel 
Litchfield's. This was at Clapp's Corner. Abutters were James, 
Amos and Daniel Litchfield, and the school-house. Witnesses : 
Elijah Stodder and Noah l^.attles. Acknowledged Feb. 27, 1793. 
Recorded at Plymouth, A})r. 14, 1795. [Vol. Ixxvii : p. 219.] 

On Aug. 24, 1 8 12, there was conveyed to John Collamore and 
Elisha Gross, both of Scituate, administrators of the estate of 
Thomas Gross, a piece of land in Scituate, belonging to Israel 
Litchfield, containing 3 A. 45 rds., abutted by Meshach and 
Daniel Litchfield, Samuel Hiland ("Hillard") and others. This 
conveyance was made by direction of the court at Plymouth, be- 
fore Judge Adams, by Major Paul Merritt and Capt. David Old- 
ham, appraisers, in order to satisfy a decree of judgment ren. 
dered against said Israel Litchfield, in the sum of $807.81. 
[Plymouth Co. Deeds, vol. cix : p. 157.] 



Fifth Gnicration. 367 



There is also a deed of division of land between Jamess Litch- 
iicld of Cohasset, Daniel-^ Litchfield and Israels Litchfield, both 
of Scituate. Recorded at Plymouth registry, vol. Ixxi : p. 151. 

The following mortgage deed is given in full to show the pass- 
ing of the title in the old homestead from father to son, as well 
as other interesting data. The italics are introduced by the 
compiler. 

Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Israel Litchfield of Scit- 
uate in the County of Plymouth yeoman, in Consideration of Three 
'I'housand Seventeen Dollars Ninety two Cents paid by Milton Litch- 
field of Scituate aforesaid Shipwright the Receipt whereof I do hereby 
acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, sell and convey unto the said 
Milton Litchfield his heirs and assigns, thirty Acres of land be the 
same more or less with the dwelling House in which I the said Israel 
now live the Barn and other Buildings thereon standing lying and be- 
ing in Scituate aforesaid on the Northerly side of the highway that 
leads Westerly from Lawrence Litchfield to Meshack Litchfield and 
is bounded Southerly by said highway. Westerly by said Meshack 
land and land belonging to the heirs of John Pratt and to the heirs 
of Elijah Litchfield Northerly by long lane so called and Easterly by 
Barnabas Litchfield land and Meshack Litchfield land. Also another 
piece of land Containing three quarters of an acre lying in said 
Scituate between the highways that lead Westerly from my dwelling 
House and bounded Westerly by Samuel Hyland Jun"" land and Dan- 
iel Litchfields land and otherways by said highways Also another 
])iece of land Containing ten acres be the same more or less lying in 
said Scituate bounded Southerly and Easterly by Cornelius Bates 
land Northerly and Westerly by \^'illiam Whitcomb's land Also about 
two Acres of upland and swamp being in said Scituate at flat swamp 
near Mount Hope so called bounded as may appear by a divi.sion 
deed between me tlie said Israel James and Daniel Litchfield, refer- 
ence thereto being had. Also One half of a lot of Cedar Swamp in 
the Town Cedar Swamp, Containing about four acres as may appear 
by a deed from Jacob Wade to Daniel Litchfield and me the said 
Israel reference thereto being had. Also about an acre of flatts ai 
Briggs Harbour in said Scituate lying in Common and undivided be- 
tween me the said Israel and Others, Also the One half of the djccll- 
ing House in which Joab Litchfield now lives with the land under the 
same Also the Om half of a Fau in the Rev'! Mr Thomas Meeting House 
whicli has been' Improved by me in Connnon and undivided with the heirs 



368 Lawrence T.HehJield and His Descendants. 

of Benjamin Bailey. To Have and To Hold the aforegranted Prem- 
ises to ihe said Milton Litchfield his Heirs and Assigns, to his & their 
use and behoof forever. And I do covenant with the said Milton Litch- 
field his Heirs and Assigns, That T am lawfully seized in Fee of the 
aforegranted Premises ; That they are free of all Incumbrances That 
I have good Right tu sell and convey the same to the said Milton 
Litchfield. And that 1 will warrant and defend the same Premises 
to the said Milton Litchfield his heirs and assigns, forever, against 
the lawful Claims and Demands of all Persons. Provided neverihckss, 
That if the said Israel Litchfield his Heirs, Executors, or Administra- 
tors, pay to the said Milton Litchfield his Heirs, Executors, Adminis- 
trators or Assigns, the Sum of Three Thousand and Seventeen Dollars 
and Ninety two Cents within One full year from the date hereof with 
legal Interest then this Deed, as also a certain Note of hand bearing 
even Date with these Presents, given by the said Israel Litchfield to 
the said Milton Litchfield to pay the same Sum at the Time aforesaid, 
shall be void ; otherwise shall remain in full Force. In witness where- 
of, I the said Israel Litchfield have hereunto set my Hand nnd Seal 
this Twenty Sixth Day of December in the Year of our Lord One 
thousand eight hundred and twenty six. 
Signed, sealed, and delivered) 



m Presence of us ( ^ ^ ^- — -^ 

, , Ti 'n ) Israel LrrcnriKLD " ^^ 

lohn B. furner 



Plymouth ss. ]3ecembcr 26th, 1826. Then the above named Israel 
Litchifield acknowledged the above Instrument to be his free Act and 
Deed, before me. 

John B. Tukner Just, of Peace. 

Received December 27th, 1826, & Recorded.* 

/>-. ROSSKTER COTJON Reg"^ 

The house of Deacon Israel^ Litchfield, on Migli Street, is 
now occupied by Mrs. Lily^ Litchfield, widow of Sumner^ Litch- 
field, son of Milton^ Litchfield, and by her grandson, Frank 
Crane and family, an account of all of whom will appear in order 
of the families in tliis Genealogy. A picture of this house is 
given herewith. I'rom an examination of the timbers in the 
attic and otliev parts of the house there is clear evidence that 

* Pl)'mouth County Deeds, vol. cli.x : p. 191. 



:: I 



"^ 



i 



Fifth Generation. 369 

the present structure was rebuilt from a much older house, ante- 
dating the occupying of it by Dea. Israel. 

At Dedham, the Norfolk County registry contains fourteen 
deeds with Israels Litchfield's name as grantor or grantee, one of 
these being a partition deed. Abstracts follow : 

NORFOLK COUNTY DEKOS. 

March 28, 1808. Israel l.itchfield (and Fanny, his wife), for ,^382, 
to John Lincoln, Scituate, mariner, one-half acre land and bdgs., in 
Cohasset, " part of the real testate of which Gushing Kilby late of 
Cohassett died seized & set off & assigned to the above named Fanny 
as a part of her share of the Estate of her hon'^ father Cashing Kilby." 
Abutters : Thomas Lothrop, John Pratt, Witnesses : Hayward Fierce, 
Xoa Litchfield. [Vol. xxxiii : p. 109.] 

June 14, 1S08. Samuel Stockbridge of Cohasset, gentleman, for 
$4350, to Israel Litchfield, yeoman, the dwelling-house, barn, and 5 
A. land of grantor, in Cohasset, "on the northerly side of Cohasset 
Harbor." Abutters : Widow Mary Mann, heirs of John Lewis, James 
Stoddard, Samuel Pratt, Thomas Brown,' Hector Stockbridge and 
Festus Litchfield. Also, all right and title to a wharf and store and 
land adjoining -'on northerly side of Cohasset Harbour," which was 
formerly part of the estate of Samuel Bates of Cohasset. Witnesses : 
Xoa Litchfield, John Lincoln. [Vol. xxxiii : p. 2.] 

May 20, 1810. Israel Litchfield (and Fanny, his wife), for $378.68, 
to Festus Litchfield, Cohasset, shipwright, 4 A. 1 1 rds. pasture-land 
in Cohasset near homestead land of grantee, and abutted by him, ' 
John Lewis, James Stoddard, Samuel Pratt, Thomas Brown, heirs of 
Hector Stockbridge. Witi-iesses: Milton Litchfield,' Anslem Lincoln. 
[Vol. liii : p. 203.] 

May 7, 181 1, Israel Litclifield (and P^anny, his wife), for $290, to 
Caleb Nicholls, gentleman, leather Stephenson, Jr., Elijah Nickinson, 
mariner, and Peter Lothrop, all of Cohasset, one undivided third part 
of a wharf, one-half of the " old stores likewise undivided between 
myself & the heirs of Elector Stockbridge & the half of the Land for 
Stores (that was set off in a division deed, between J Turner, S'" 
Stockbridge & H Stocbridge) with all the privileges and appertenances 
thereunto belonging said \\'harf is bounded Southerly on the meadow 
Creek Westerly on the towns Land or highv.ay Northerly on the beach 
belonging to Lincoln or Col[l]ier Situate in the Westerly part of Co- 
hassett Cove so called said Wharf was formerly the property of S'" 
Bates & since the property of Mefs""* Turner and Stockbridge." Wit- 



37° Lawrence Litchjield and His JJi'sceHda?its. 

nesses : Elisha iJoane, Maria F. Doane, Xoa Litchfield and Anna 
Lincoln. [Vol. xxxix: p. 227.] 

July 7, 1812. Israel Litchfield (and Fanny, his wife), for S65, to 
Huldah Lincoln, Cohasset, widow, one-half acre meadow in Cohas- 
set, near the harbor abutted by highway, or common, Caleb Nichols, 
a creek, and by Huldah 's other land, all of which land is in right of 
Fanny. Witnesses : Milton Litchfield and Hayward Pierce. [Vol. 
xliii: p. 28.J 

Jan. 19, 1816. Israel Litchfield, for $975, to Nichols Tower of 
Cohasset, mariner, one acre land with house, barn, and outhouse, in 
Cohasset, near and north of the harbor, formerly owned and occupied 
by Samuel Stockbridge and now occupied by Sarah Young and Sarah 
Flail, widows, abutted by land of widow Mary Mann, of heirs of John 
Lewis, of my son, Festus Litchfield, and by highway or common. 
Witnesses: Festus and Penelope Litchfield. [Vol. Hi : p. 33-] 

Dec. 9, 1S28, * Israel Litchfield, Fanny, his wife, "in right of .said 

Fanny, Frost Hudson of Cohas.set and Sally wife of said 

F>ost in right of said Sally and Huldah Lincoln of Cohassett widow 
and heirs of Ignatius Oreutt of said Cohassett dec''," for $520, to 
Henry Snow, Cohasset, master mechanic, 10 1/4 A. 24 rds. pasture 
and field in Cohasset, part of the estate of Ignatius Oreutt, and situ- 
ated near land and house cf Mordecai and Abraham Lincoln. Wit- 
nesses : W^illiam Lincoln aiad James C. Doane. [Vol. Ixxxvii : p. 161.] 

Jan. 26, 1S29. Same grantors, for $224.60, to William Lincoln, 
Cohasset, yeoman, 3 3/4^. 12 rds. salt meadow in Cohasset, near 
land of grantee; also, 5 -ih A. woodland in Cohasset on south-east 
side of Scituate pond, so (called. Witnesses: James C. Doane and 
Francis Lincoln. [Vol. Ixsxvi: p. 235.] 

Jan. 26, 1829. Same gTantors, for $599.66, to Peter Lothrop, Co- 
hasset, gentleman, 19 1/4 A. 15 rds. pasture in Cohasset, near land of 
Abraham Lincoln, Moses Pratt, Luther Marble, Jaazaniah Bates, Os- 
born W'ood, Thomas Lincwlm and of grantors. [Vol. cxx : p. 181.] 

Jan. 26, 1829. Same giantors, for $92.93, to Osborn Wood, Co- 
hasset, mariner, 3 1/4 A. to 2/3 rds. woodland in Cohasset, south 
east of Scituate pond, abutted by Warren Nichols, Abraham Lincoln, 
Peter Lothrop, Thomas Lincoln, Paul Bates and William I>incoln. 
Witnesses: James C. Doanre and William Lincoln. Kec. Apr. 15, 
1834. [Vol. cii : p. 296.]. 

Jan. 26, 1829. Same giantors, for §92.93, to Thomas Lincoln, 
Cohasset, mariner, 3 1/4 A. 20 2/3 rds. woodland, as above, abutted 
by Osborn Wood, Peter Lothrop, Ambrose Bates, Gershom Wheel- 



Fifth Genfralion. 371 



Wright and Paul Bates. Witnesses as above. Rec. Dec. 21, 1835. 
[Vol. ex : p. 10.] 

April 13, 1829. Israel Litchfield, for $100, to Jolni Lincoln, Co- 
hasset, master mariner, all his right, etc., in the estate of Ignatius 
Orcutt of Cohassel, deceased, excepting such part as may be neces- 
sary to settle j'jst debts of said deceased. Witnesses: James C. 
Doane and William E. Doane. [Vol. Ixxxvii : p. 261.] 

Jan. 29, 1830. Israel Litchfield (and wife, Fanny), Frost Hudson 
of Cohasset and wife, Sally, and William Lincoln of Cohasset, yeo- 
man, for $664, to PJphraim Snow of Cohasset, master mariner, 21 3/4 
A. 13 rds. pasture land in Cohasset, abutted by public road to Beech- 
woods, Peter Lothrop, Abraham Lincoln, Henry Snow, reserving right 
of passage to Abraham Lincoln. Becky, wife of William Lincoln, re- 
leased. Witnesses: Francis Lincoln, Thomas Hudson and James C. 
Doane. [Vol. xciv: p. 18.] 

March 25, 1830. Indenture and division deed between Israel and 
Fanny Litchfield of the first part; Frost and Sally Hudson of the 
second part ; and William and Becky Lincoln of the third part of 2>2) 
A. 6 rds. land in Cohasset, held in common by these parties. Wit- 
nesses: Francis Lincoln, Thomas Hudson and James C. Doane. 
[Vol. xci: p. 178.] 

There are no deeds in Israel's name in Suffolk County regis- 
try, Boston. 

Part One of the Direct Tax List for 1798 (see footnote, page 
305) gives Israel Litchfield as ov.'ner and occupant of a dwelling- 
house, out-building, and 40 perches of land, of the assessment 
value of $220 ; and Part Two of the same list gives him as the 
owner and occupant of the following pieces of land, with assess- 
ment values : 37 A. 40 p., $996 ; 14 A. $84 ; 9 A. 120 p., $156; 
2 A. 40 p., $30; I A. 80 p., $3 ; 120 p., $8 ; and .120 })., $4; 
total, $1,281. In Part One it is entered that James-^ Litchfield 
(Family No. 53), his brother, was occupant of a dwelling house 
and 40 perches of land owned by James and Israel, the assessed 
valuation being S200. 

Deacon Israel^ Litchfield was married tivice. His first wife was 
Sarah Cass, to whom he 
was married at Scituat 
Nov. 23, 1778 (First 
Church records), by 



-^^/ofoA T^^^^^lQ 



372 Lawrence Litchfield and His Descendants. 



Rev. Ebenezer Grosvenor, of which their intentions were filed 
Mar. 28, 1778 (tov.n records). She was the daughter of Abner* 
and Irania (Studley) Cass, and was baptized, Nov. 4, 1759 (First 
Ch. Rec), probably in infancy. Ilcr birth has not been ascer- 
tained. She diedf May 31, 1799. 

The second wife of Deacon Israel = Litchfield was Fanny Lin- 
coln, widow of Lazarus Lincoln of Cohasset, and daughter of 
Gushing and Huldah (Orcutt) Kilby. Litentions of " Deacon 
Israel Litchfield of Scituate & widow P^anny Lincoln of Cohas- 
set," were recorded at Scituate, Nov. 28, 1801. They were 
married Dec. 21, 1801. 

The Bible of Fanny (Kilby-Lincoln) Litchfield is in the home 
of Miss Martha Reed of Rockland, Mass., a granddaughtei-. It 
contains the following family records : 

Lazarus Lincoln son of Isaac LincolnJ born Octor 3J A. D. 1756 
Fanny Kilby, daughter of Cusliing Kilby§ born July 29''! anno Domini 
1763. 

Tlicy were married Sep' 171'! A. D. 1781. 

* Intentions of "Abner Cass in Irene Studley of Scituate," recorded at Boston, 
May 13, 1756. The Scituate town records give the intentions of "Al)ner Cafs of 
Boston to Rany Studley of Scituate, January ye 17 : 1756." The First Church 
records their marriage: " Abner Cafs of Boston and Rany Studley, Sept. 5, 1756." 
The latter records contain the following about this Cass family. " Abner Cat's 
Renewd covt & brot his dangt Sarah to Baptifm — 4 Nov : 1759." " liana wife of 
Abner Cafs owned ye covt ^ v.as baptifed — 4 Nov : 1759." " Jonathan the Son 
of Abner Cafk [Cass] " v.a.-' bapt. by Rev. E. Grosvenor, May 15, 1763. Abner 
Cass died between this last named date and April 5, 1766, when intentions of 
marriage between his widov/, Iiania, and Nicholas* Litchfield (Family No. 64) 
were fded at Scituate. The name, Abner Cass, does not occur in Suffolk County 
registry of deeds or in l^lymoulh County probate records to iSSi, and no early 
Cass appears in Norfolk County probate registr}'. Irania appears as Lnratiy in 
some records. 

Book No. 2, Common Sessions Records (at I'lymouth Co. Court-house) states 
that Abner " Cask" came to Scituate, Nov. 11, 1757, and was warned out of tmvn, 
Nov. 28, 1757. Perhaps he was a descendant of the Mendon or New Hampiiire 
Casses. 

■\ See quoted records in Family No. 57. The town record : " Wife of Deacon 
Litchfield" died in 1799. The First Church record: "The wife of Deacn Israel 
Litchfield Jujie," 1799. Buried at Mt. Hope cemetery, probably. 

X A descendant of Samuel' Lincoln. Lazarus Lincoln was a Revolutionary 
soldier and was present at the suiTender of Burgoyne at Saratoga. See llist. 
Hingham, vol. ii: p. 46S, and Afnbrose Bates Diary (George L. Davenport); also 
Bigelow's Hist. Cohasset, p. 29S. 

§ A resident of Hingham, Second Precinct, /. e. Cohasset, and there are a few 
references to him in the above-mentioned histories. The parentage and ancestry 
of his wife, Hannah Chcutt, aie found in the History of Hingham, vol. iii : pp. 
98, 99- . . . . 



Fijik Generation. 373 



Their children born as follows. 

1. Sami. Kilby born Octo"- lo*!' 17S2. Dec! Nov 23, 17S3. 

2. John born January 15111 17S4 Decdjany 7 1834.* 

3. Samel Kilby born June 26 1785. Deed Feby Sth 1S09. 

4. Lot born April 19 17S9 Deed August 27, 1825. 

5. Annaf born October 31st 1791. 

6. Ansleniij: born January 19, 1794. 

December 5th 1796, being a very severe storm it is beyond all doubt that 
Lazarus Lincoln svas Lost at sea. 



December 21st 1801 Israel Litchfield and Fanny Lincoln were married. 

1. Scrissa tlieir first child born April 14, 1803. 

2. Alfred born November iS, 1804. 
Serissa died Oct. i8th, 1865. 

The First Church of Sciluate records contain the following- 
entry : " Fanny Litchfield, a member of the Church in Cohafset 
— admitted to our fellowship & communion by a Letter of dis- 
mifsal & recommendation from the abo\'e mentioned Chh. June 
6th 1802." 

l-'"anny§ removed to liast Abington (now Rockland) soon after 
the death of her husband, Deacon Israel, s and made her home 
with her daughter, Serissn,*^' who lived in the house where Miss 
Martha Reed resides, at 80 Market Street, Rockland. She 
"arrived at that point in life commonly called death," Sept. 3, 



*The entry ol death is not distinct, and it mny be " Jany 9 1834." To this 
dale Mr. Davenj-iort, the Cohassct genealogist, takes exception, and say.s that he 
died Dcr.jj, 18^2, and adds tlie following data concerning him, whom lie con- 
siders identical with Captain John Lincoln, often mentioned in Cohasset history : 
" Capt. John married fiist, probably at .Sciluate, Deborah, daughter of Snell and 
Charlotte (Otis) Wade, of .Sciluate. Deborah died April 11, 1818, in Cohasset, 
aged 32 years. He married second, Feb. 7, 1819, Elizabeth, born I)ec. 13, 17S4, 
died Jan. 9, 1S4S, daughter of James and Susanna (Lincoln) Stodder. i)escen- 
dants live in Cohasset." 

+ Anna married Luther^ I.itrhfidd. ■sow of Lawrence^ (Family No. 121). She 
was also called " J'anny," and died in .\lb:on, }'a., in 1851. 

j Anslen) and Lot Lincoln becp.nje residents of Malone, N. Y. The following 
abstract of the transfer of land was sent by Mr. Davenport. It was given by 
Elisha Doane, Justice of the Peace; "8 Mar. 1817— Anslem Lincoln, cordwaincr, 
of Malone, in the County of Fraiddin, N. Y., Lot Lincoln, mason, of Malone, anci 
John Lincoln of Cohasset, marint-r, and Deborah his wife, to Cummings l>inco!n, 
pasture land." Anslem lived to be over 90 years of age, and left sons in Malone, 
one of whom was named John. 

§ Norfolk Coimty Deeds, vol. cxxviii : fol. 114: Fanny Litchfield, widow, of 
East Abington, on April 22, 1840, for $950, conveyed to Charles Pratt of Cohas- 
set, stone mason, the field and pasture land with buildings thereon, in Cohasset, 
on Bcachwoods street, part of the faim of Ignatius Orcutt, deceased. Witnesses: 
Dexter and Xoa Merritt. 



374 Lawrmce Lilchjidd ofid //» Descc?tdanfs. 



1846, and her body was buried in the cemetery just back of the 
house just mentioned, in Samuel Reed's lot. 

Deacon Israels Litchfield died on January 15, 1840, and is 
buried in Mt. Hope cemetery, Scituate. 

There is no record at Plymouth Comity probate office of the 
settlement of his estate. It would appear that this was adjusted 
before his death, for it is known that owing to his loans and en- 
dorsements of notes which went to protest, he lost nearly all of 
his property. 

Children of Israel Litchfield, all born at Scituate, and re- 
corded on the town records, except the eighth child : ■ — 

By SornJi : 

i. SibA^j,^* b. Apr. 6, 1780; m. 1800, Samuel'^ Stockbridgc, 
Jr. (see Family No. 209), her first cousin. 

220. ii. XoAt (or Zoa), b. Feb. 19, 1782 ; ni. 1822, " Major " Paul 

Merritt, as his second wife. 

221. iii. Festus, b. Oct. 18, 1783 ; m. 1S06, Penelope^ Stockbridgc 

(of Family No. 58), his first cousin, 
iv. Enos, b. Dec. 17, 1785. "In memory $ of Enos, son of 
Dea. Israel and Mrs. Sarah Litchfield. Me died Octo- 
ber ye i3ti> 1788." 

222. V. Enos, b. Aug. 25, 1788; rn. prob. Fanny Smith; les. Bos- 

ton and in the West. More information wanted. 

223. vi. Milton, b. Jan. 20, 1791 ; m. ist, 18 19, Abigail Otis ; 2d, 

1834, Sophia Otis, her sister. 
vii. Harvey, b, Aug. 6, 1793. "In memory^ of llarxey, son 
of Dea. Israel and Mrs. Sarah Litchfield. He died 
Augst ys 21*' 1796 in his 4*'' year," 
viii. Son (no name appears on record), b. Feb. 10, 1796. 

'• of Dea. Israel and Mrs. Sarah Litchfield. JIe\\ 

died Sept y= 8"' 1796, in his 7''' month." 

* Morse calls this name, incorrectly: " Sibal." 

t This name appears with the spelling " Hoa," on the town record; apparently 
the recorder did not know how to make an "X." The form "Zoa," from the 
Greek Zoe, occurs quite commonly in Morse and other records. 

} This is the inscription on an old .stone in Mt. Hope cemetery, Scituate. See 
jjage 299. 

^ /l>id. The church record: Died, 1796, "The child of Dec" Israel Litchfield." 
See page 29S. 

Ii The stone ai Ml. Hope cemetery, from which this imperfect inscription is 
taken, is broken at the top. The town record: Died, 1796, "Israel Litchfields 
child." There is also a church record. See page 29S. 



Fifth Generation. • 375 



ix. Sophia, b. h\x^., 1797 ; m. 1838, Thomas^ Litchfield (of 
Family No 101), as his second wife. 

By Fanny (see IMble record, supra) : 

224. X. Skrissa, b. Apr. 14, 1803; 111. ist, 1825, Kowlaiul liailcy ; 

2d, 1833, Samuel Reed. 

225. ,xi. Alfred, b. Nov. 18,* 1804; in.-i828, Mary Cole. 

61 

Lot5 LrrcuFiELD {Josiah,^ Nicholas,'^ JosiaJi,''- Lawroice^) was 
born in Scituate, November 16, 1755 ; baptized August 29, 1756; 
died before December 26, 1783, as determined by his father's 
will (page 145). His name appears, also, as " Lott." Men- 
tioned in the Diary of his brother, Deacon Israels Litchfield 
(preceding family). He' served in the Revolution (see Appen- 
dix). There appear to be no data concerning him in Plymouth 
County Probate or Land Records. Resided in Scituate. 

Morse's LitcJifield Genealogy (1855) says that he was married 
tivicc, both wives having the Christian name of Rachel, the latter 
-k widow. It is certain that he was married to Rachel^ Litch- 
field, daughter of Nicholas'' and Sarah (Studley) Litchfield (see 
pages 147-151), the mother of his son, Luther,'' given below. 
Their intentions were entered on the Scituate town records, Sept. 
27, 1777, aiid the marringe was solemnized by Rev. Ebenezer 
Grosvenor, Oct. 26, 1777 (First Church Rec). This Rachel 
Litchfield is named in her father's will as "unmarried " in April, 
1777. She may have died at or near the time of giving birth to 
Luther,^ her death date not appearing. 

If Lots had a second wWc, she was the "widow Rachel Litch- 
field," to wbiom intentions of marriage were entered at Scituate, 
August 4, 1782 (Scituate town records). It has not been de- 
termined whose widow this Rachel was. She may have been 
the widow of a James Litchfield, Jr. (see footnote, page 274, and" 
Family No. 72), or of Josi ili^ Litchfield, pages 279, 280. There 
is a hiatus in the First Church marriage records about the lime 
that the mairiage would have taken place, so there is no such 

* Morse'.^ Lifth^eid Gtneaiogy says " &," 



376 Lmurcncr. Lifi/i/Ir/J otnf ///.'• Desccndauts. 



entry therein. Lot^ may have died before a second marriage, 
and this seems likely, for no mention is made of a wife of Lot in 
the will of his father, but ]m ovision is made therein for Lot's son, 
•Luther,'^ "only son and child" (see pap;e 145). 
Child of Lots Litchfield : 

226. i. Lu'i'HKR.^b. Scit'jate, Feb. 8, 1778; was a carpenter, liv- 
ing in Sciluate in 1799. More data desired. 

62 

Jamks5 LjTCitFiiii.i) [A'ic/wlas,'' Nicholas^^ Josiali^- Laiurcncc') 
was born in Scituate, Feb 10, 1738; baptized October 14, 1739. 
Resided in Scituate. (jreat-grandfather of the compiler. He 
was sometimes called "Jr.," to distinguish him* from his first 
cousin, James' (Family No. 53, page 270), who was born in 1734. 
Served in the Revolution (see Appendi.x), and perhaps may be 
credited with service in the Colonial wars. By will of his father, 
he received only fourteen pounds, lawful money (see page 149), 
probably because of the gift of his grandfather, mentioned below. 

He is described by a descendant as being a man of temperate 
and industrious habits, of mild and retiring disposition, but much 
beloved. He was a farmer and carpenter. On the town records, 
he is mentioned as being a highway surveyor in 1771, as hog- 
reeve in 1773 and 1776, and in October, 1782, he was allowed, 
by vote, eleven shillings for timber furnished for a bridge. It 
appears that he did not take an active part in local afiairs, the 
care of a large family occupying his attention and strength until 
his untimely death. 

The following deed, given in abstract, shows that he was 
worthy of encouragement : 

Sept. 28, 1780. James Siudley of Scituate, yeoman, for and in 
consideration of regard, love and natural affection for his graiidsim, 
James Litchfield, Scituate, y^on'»an, deeded him 81 A. land, with 
dwelling-house and barn theruon, in Scituate, at and near a place 
called "Beach Neck" Abutted by highway leading to Mount Hope; 
lands of Levi Newell; cedar swamp lots; land of heirs of James 



* For a nickname, see al.>stiact from De.a. .Israel 5 Jit chfield's Diary, page 31; 



Fifth C'c/icra/ion. 377 



Newell, deceased ; piece of land and orchard belonging to heirs of 
Nicholas Litchfield, deceased; excepting i ijz A. within these bounds 
belonging to Levi Newell, and a highwa}- to the cedar swa'mp. \\\l- 
nesses : Eliab Studlc)- and Israel Yinal, Jr. Recorded at Plymouth, 
Oct. 17, 17 So. [Vol. Ix: p. 96.] 

It was upon this property that James5 was building a new 
house when overtaken by his fatal sickness. 

Jamess Litchfield was married huice. The Scituate town 
records have the jollowing entries : 

Intention of marriage of " M"" James Litchfield, J"" to M^ Anna Gor- 
din, both of Scituate, Feb>- 2, 17G0." 

Intention of maniage of James '' Lithfield " and Elizabeth Litch- 
field, " both of Scituate, Nov. 22,, 1769." 

"James Litchfield & Eliz^ Litchfield both of Scitui^te were marr^ 
Jany ye 7. 1770." 

The Scituate First Church Records : 

"James Litchfield j"^ & Anna Cordin [married by Rev. Shearja- 
shub Bourn] 2 M^'' 1760 " 

" James Litchfield &; Elizabeth Litchfield [married by Rev. Eben- 
ezer Grosvenor] 9. Jan>\ 1770 " 

The 7?7'.y/ wife of James^ Litchfield, as appears by the inten- 
tion and marriage records, was Anna Gordin. The peculiar 
spelling of the sifrmimc makes it doubtful whether it was Gordon 
or Jordan, both surnames (variously spelled) appearing on the 
Scituate records in or about this period. JJer birth, parentage, 
death, and other data which would help to unravel the mystery 
are not at hand. At present no information can be given of her 
descendants, if any are Ii\ing. It has been stated by a grand- 
daughter* of the second wife of James,^ that Anna's two daugh- 
ters, Susannah*^ (Litchfield) Bailey, and Anna^^ (Litchfield) Stone, 
removed to some place in Eastern New York, across from Lake 
Champlain, and she also said that Anna's family name was 
Gordon. No written or printed record has been found to prove 



* Mrs. Elizabeth Litchfield^ (Merritt) Mcrritt, now d$ 
and Sebre* (Litchfield) Merritt, Family No. 233. 



^ceased, daughter of Klisha 



37^ Lawrence Lifchjifld and If is Descendafits. 

this. Morse does not mention her in his Litchfield Genealogy 

(1855)- 

In the following Warning and Return,* there seems to be a 
reference to the above Anna : 

Scituate December 31^' 1756 To Samuel Litchfield Jun''t one of 
the Constables of Scituate. You are hereby Ordered to warn the 
persons hereafter named lo depart forthwith out of Scituate, that is to 
say Jabez Hatcht and his wife who came from Marshfield in the 
month of September last, and also Ann Gordeii who came frovi Boston 
last May, and also Sarah Gent§ who came from Boston last April and 
also Lewis Dunald li who came to this town last Summer also John 
PeircelF who came to this town last July, also John Conneay who 
came from Boston last August also John Holmes** and Wife who 
came from Chelsey [Chelsea] last april also Robert Peirce ft who 
came from Great Britian and make return of your Doings thereon as 
the Same direct 

Caleb Torrey ) Selectmen 
GiDEOx YiNAL \ of Scituate 

* Furnished to the compiler by Charles Otis J-lIlms, G;ecnbiish, Mass., who re- 
ceived the -written document for inspection from a friend A. B. Blyston, 329 Maple 
St., Buffalo, N. Y., in a letter of April 20, 1903. Besides this notification, there 
is another, both of which belong to Mr. Blyston. How they wandered away from 
Scituate is a question unanswered. This other paper is a "warning" directed to 
Isaac Stetson, constable of Scituate, in regard to " Rachel Garderner who belongs 
to Abinton and Came into this Town about Ten Months ago and now resides at 
John Hatches," and dated July i, 1766. The signers were: Jos[eph] Cushing, 
Jn" C'ushing, Jun., and Gideon Vinall, Selectmen of Scituate. No return appears. 

t Family No. 39, page 208. In rhis reference it will be noted that the " rates " 
of two persons mentioned in this " warning," viz., Jabez Hatch and John " Con- 
way," were allowed to the constable in 1758. 

} Scituate First Church records : " William Son of Jabez Hatch late of Manli- 
fld baptized 10 April 1757." 

§ An examination of Boston printed records shows that there was a Tliomas 
Gent in Boston earlier than 1695, and that there were "Gents " and '• Jents" there 
in the eighteenth century. On Sept. 3, T766, a Sarah Gent was married to Wil- 
liam Martin, and on July 4, 17S7, a Sarah Gent was married to Joseph Sweetser. 
This interchange of "G" and "J " noted here gives another example of confused 
spelling from similarity of soimds. 

li Is this a misspelling of Donald or Dunnell or Donnell ? 

Ti Intentions of John Peirce and Anna Cahill, both of Sciuiate, Oct. 30, 1756. 
(Scit. town rec.) Married Nov. 25, 1756. (First Ch. rec.) 

** Intentions of John Holmes to Hannah Briggs, both of Scituate, Nov. i, i/.jG; 
married Dec. 2, 174C. (Scit. town rec.) 

tt See footnote, page 261, this Genealogy. Intentions of " Robart " I'eirce to 
Marcy Hatch, both of Scituate, Jan. 77, 1756: married- Mch. 15, 1756. (Scit. 
town rec.) On June i, 1840, Robert " Pierce," aged 79 years, son of this Robert 
and Marcy, was living with I'aul*" Litchfield fof Family No. 102] of Scituate. See 
Census of Pensioners of Massctehnsetts. ■\^\'^\^\\•~■\\(^(\ in iS.;i. He was born in Scit 
uate, 0>n. 17, 1761. 



Fifih Gefirt <7 fiofi . 



379 



Scituate Februaiy 21, 1757 
'1 o the hon'''<^ : Court of Quarter Sessions to be holden at Plymouth 
in and for the County of Plymouth on the first tuesday in March A D. 
1757. These May inform your honor that I have warned all the 
within named persons to depart the town of Scituate as within di- 
rected, excepting John Conneay who has left said town 

Att[est]. Samuel Leichfikld Jun>- Constable of Scituate. 
Received March 4, 1757. /Vr Edward Winslow C/cr. 

A True Cojjy of J^er Ord. Examd. Per Edward \^'ins]ow, Clcr. \CIcr- 
icus, Clerk.] 

The above " warning " is endorsed : " Siuidry persons warned 
out of Scituate." The purpose of such a notice was not, as' 
might be inferred, to get fid of indigent or undesirable people, 
often as such a measure might be good to apply, but was to pre- 
vent non-residents from becoming public charges and to notify 
them that should they refuse to go they would be considered re- 
sponsible and taxable citizens of the town. The "warning" did 
not necessarily reflect upon the moral character of any one. It 
was a legal action to determine the civic status of the one upon 
whom it was served. 

If "Ann Gorden"and "Anna Gordin " w^cre identical, then 
it is shown that the abo\^e notice did not avail \n her case and 
she remained to become a " resident " of Scituate, and to many- 
one of its citizens about f(jur years later. Boston records have 
(to the appearance of this printed page) failed to show her 
identity. 

The surname, Gordon, spelled this w-ay, appears rarely upon 
Scituate records. The First Church records has the following 
entry, but nothing more is knowai of him: '^ Samuel Gor- 
don lately come from Ireland, Desiring Comunion with this 
Church and presenting his Certificate was admitted Nov^^e.- 4. 
1722." 

The Second Church records have this entry : "Javics Blank- 
inJJiip {Alias Gordon) Son of Anne Blankinfhip, and apprentice 
to the widow Rachel Dwell)-, was baptized at the defire of Sd 
Dvvelle, Slie being in full Communion w^'^ this Chh." This was 



380 Lnivynicc LitchfcU and His Descendant!:. 



in 1728. From Pembroke vital records it is learned that James 
Blankinship and Ruth Clerk (? Clarke), both of Pembroke, were 
married in 1747 (no month or day given), by Rev. Daniel Lewis. 
Can anyone solve the connection of "Gordon" with this man's 
name ? 

In the indexes of wills, administrations and deeds of Plymouth 
County registries, there appears to be no entry in tbe eighteenth 
century under the name of Gordon of Scituate. 

A study of Scituate records shows the frequent occurrence of 
the famil}' name of Jordan (variously spelled, once as " Gor- 
dcn "), but in the absence of any proof to show that Anna was 
of the Jordan family, further discussion of this theory or guess 
is left to the Appendix. 

The second wife of James^ Litchfield was Elizabeth^ Litch- 
field, his second cousin, baptized at Scituate, November 4, 1744, 
eldest surviving daughter of Samuel"* and Priscilla* (Vinal) Litch- 
field (Family No. 39, pages 208-211). She died December 
29, 1835, surviving her husband nearly fifty years. She is de- 
scribed by her grand-daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Litchfield'' (Mer- 
ritt) Merritt (born in 181 2, died in 1905), as a woman of sedate- 
ness and hospitality, and very highly patriotic. When the tea 
was thrown overboard in Boston harbor, it is said that Mrs. 
Litchfieldf threw her tea-pot against a stone-wall, breaking it, 
thus manifesting her displeasure at the levying of the hated tea- 
tax. After the death of her husband, leaving a large family 
and an unfinished home on her hands, she had a part of the 
structure made habitable and there she brought up her family in 
an industrious and frugal manner. Lawrence,^ her eldest son, 
lived in the same house, and cared for his mother in her declin- 
ing days. It is said that she was a remarkable woman for her 
time. This house, after the death of Lawrence'" Litchfield, in 
1857, became the properly of his son, SamueP Litchfield, and, 

* She is named in the Direct Tax List, Pait 2, of 179S, as an occupant of 8 A. 
land, assessed value, S136, belonging to the heirs of Samuel Litchfield. 

t The compiler has been told by Mrs. Elizabeth Litchfield Merritt, named 
above, that Cummings Lincoln of Cohasset (see Hist, of Ntttg/iam, vol. ii : p. 46S) 
was waiting upon Elizabeth* Litchfield, at the time of his early death (probably 
at sea), in 1765. In memory of him, she named one of her sons. 



1 ^ 



lufth Gciteiation. 381 



in turn, it has become the property of William I^awrcnce^ Litch- 
field, his surviving son, who lives there at the present time and 
who has a son, Lawrence Neil'' Litchfield. The house has been 
kept in good condition outside and in, and stands at the bend of 
High street, North Scituate, between William Studley's and the 
late Sumner" Litchfield's. The front door of the house is, 
strangely, on the side opposite to the street, but this is the 
south side. In the yard is an old-fashioned well-sweep, and a 
pear tree said to be nearly two hundred years old, which still 
bears much, though unpalatable, fruit. The compiler has visited 
this house a number of times. 

It is probable that Anna, first wife of Jamess Litchfield was 
buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, but no stone remains to mark 
her grave. She died before Nov., 1769. The second wife, 
Elizabeth, 5 is buried beside her husband. The inscription on 
her gravestone reads : "In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of 
Mr. James Litchfield, who died* Dec. 29, 1835." His grave- 
stone, at Mount Hope Cemetery, North Scituate, reads : •' In 
memory of Mr. James Litchfield who diedf Oct. 10, 1786, aged 
48 years." At his grave there was placed in 1S97, through 
the efforts of a great-granddaughter, Mrs. Mandana (Clapp) 
Morris of North Scituate, a bronze marker of the So7is of iJic 
Avierican Revolution. All descendants of Jamess Litchfield are 
entitled to join a society like the S. A. R. See the l8gj Year 
Book of the MassacJiiisctis S. A. 7v., page 338. The death of 
James5 is given also in the Capt. Daniels Litchfield menioran- 
dum, page 299. 

Janiess died intestate, and administration was granted on 
iMarch 28, 1787, to Lawrences Litchfield (Family No. '121), 
with Joseph Ellmes, Jr., and Israel-^ Litchfield, as sureties. 



* The records of the First Parish, .Scituate, Unitarian, contain the following 
entry which undoubtedly is intended to mean the widcnv of James^ : " [Died] 1S35, 
Dee! 29, Widow of Lainre?ice Litchfield sair. aged ^j." The town record is ; 
" 1835 Dec. 29, Widow Elizabeth Litchfield." 

1 It is a common saying that his early death was caused by an illness resulting 
from an injury to his head made by his brother, Lothrop^ Litchfield, while the 
latter was in an into.vicated condition. James was engaged in building his new 
house at the time of the alleged assault. 



382 Lawrence Litchfield and His Descendants. 



INVENTORY. 

A TRUE Inventory* of the Estate, both Real and I'ersonal, of 
which James Litchfield late of Scituate in the County of Plymoiitii 
yeoman dec'd died seized, apprized by us the subscribers at Scitu- 
ate aforesaid, this 30*'' day of March 1787. 

To purse & apparel £2: 19:6; To Houshold furniture 28 : 5 : 4 ; 
To provisions 15 : 16 : o ; to Leather 1:4:0; To a firearm bayonet 
and cartridge box 1:0:0; To Farming Utentials 4 : 19:0; To Live 
Stock 30 : 11:0: To about 3/4 of a load of hay i : j o : o ; To boards, 
window frames, sashes & glass pro^dded for the fnishing the dwelling 
house 5:4: 1 ; Total of Personal [;!^] 99 : 8 : 1 1. 

To Real Estate consisting of about Eighty two acres of land with a 
dwelling house & barn thereon at ^5 : 5 : o p"" acre — £mo: 10: o. 

[Grand total] .^^529: 18: 11 

IsRAFX ViNAi, Jun^ 
Israel Litchfield 
. Joseph Ellmes J"^. 

BOND of administration. 

Know all Men by these Presents, I'hat we LawTence Litchfield yeo- 
man Joseph Ellmes Junr Israel Litchfield yeoman all of Scituate in 
the county of Plymouth within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
are holden and stand firmly bound and obliged unto Joseph Cushing 
Esq., Judge of the Probate of Wills, and granting Administrations 
within the County of Plymouth in the full Sum of One hundred & 
fifty Pounds in Lawful Money of the said Commonwealth. 

petition for sale of real estate. 

Lawrence Litchfield as admr. on y^ estate of James Litchfield Late 
of Scituate in s'^. County yeoman deceased [testifieth] that the per- 
.sonal estate whereof s*^. deceased died possessed falls short nineteen 
pounds 13/9 of being sufficient to discharge y^ just demands thereon 
— therefore he prays that he may be empowered to make sale of so 
much of the deceased's real estate as will enable him to discharge 
the aforesaid sum together with his charges of sale &c 

Plymouth iSth. April 1793. 

* Plymouth Registry of I'jobate, vol. xxx : p. 170. Italics introduced by com- 
piler. 



Fifth Geiicraiion. 383 



SALE* OF RKAL ESTATE (1793). 

To be Sold by Publick \'endiie by order of the Court of Common 
Pleas, ^^'ithin and for the County of Plymouth — on thirsday the 
thirt)' first day of October next at one of the Clock afternoon at the 
dwelling House of the Widow Elizabeth Litchfield in Scituate, Part 
of the Real Estate of James Litchfield Late of said Scituate yeoman 
dec^. So much Wood Land as will sell For twenty-two pounds thir- 
teen Shillings & nine Pence for the Payment of said deceased debts 
tS: Charges, or other Improved Lands being Part of the Home Place 
upon which said ])ec'^ Last Lived & Dyed near the Said Elizabeth 
Litchfields: For further Information Enquire of the Subscriber 

Scituate September y^ 26 day A. D. 1793 

The property sold at this " Publick Vendue " was conveyed to 
Lawrence'' Litchfield, Jr., -son of James,^ as appears by the fol- 
lowing deed. 

LAWRENCE? LITCHFIELD TO LAWRENCE^ LITCHFIELD, JR . 

To all persons to whome these presents Shall Come, Lawrence 
Litchfield of Scituate in the County of Plymouth Gent'" Administrator 
on the Estate of Jarnes Litchfield Late of Scituate aforesaid yeoman 
Deceas'^ Sendith Greeting &c. Know ye that I the said Lawrence 
Litchfield for and in Consideration of Twenty Two pounds thirteen 
Shillings and nine pence to me as Administrator on the Estate of 
James Litchfield afores^ deceas'' in hand paid before the delivery 
hereof by Lawrence Litchfield Jr of Scituate aforesaid Yeoman, have 
& Do by these presents, In my Capacity as Administrator on the 
Estate afores'' by virtue of the Authority & power to me granted by 
the Court of Common Pleas begun & held at Plymouth aforesaid on 
the third Tuesday of April A. D. 1793, to Sell & pass Deeds to con- 
vey of the said Deceas'' . real Estate where it can best be Spared to 
the amount of twenty two pounds thirteen Shillings &: nine pence for 
tlie payment of the Debts of the said James Litchfield deceas'^. and 
the Charges of Sale, Give grant bargain Sell convey and Confirm unto 
him the said Lawrence Litchfield Jr his heirs & assigns forever, a 
Certain piece of Land containing nine acres one Quarter and one 
rod, Laying and being in Scituate aforesaid in the North Easterly 

* Piymouih Registry of Probate, vol. xx.xiii: p. 471. The name of the " sub- 
scriboi," omitted at the end of the notice, was probably the petitioner, Lawrence 
Litchfield, admnr. The two preceding documents are also recorded at Plymouth. 



384 Laii'icnre Lilchfield and His Descendants. 



part of Beach neck (so called) bounded as follows Viz. beginning at 
the South East corner of a field belonging to Levi Newill, thence 
runeth South near one rod to a Stone wall fence thence easterly w ilh 
said fence Seven rods & fifleen Links thence South Seventy four &: 
an half Degrees East about forty rods to the Cedar Swamp Line, 
thence Northerly and Westerly with the said Cedar Swamp Line to 
Land Belonging to Levi Newill aforesaid thence with said Levi 
Newill Land to the first mentioned bound, with all the priviledges 
and appurtenances thereunto belonging the same being struck of to 
the said Lawrence Litchfield Jr at Two pounds, Nine Shillings pr. 
Acre he being the Highest Eider at a publick Vendue Legally noti- 
fied held at the dwelling House of Elizabeth Litchfield in Scituate 
aforesaid on the thirty first Day of October A. D. 1793. 

To have and to Hold the above granted & Bargained Premises to 
him the said Lawrence Litchfield, his heirs and Assigns to bis and 
their proper use and behoof forever. 

In witness whereof and by virtue of the authority aforesaid I the 
said Lawrence Litchfield, have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 
third day of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand Seven 
hundred & Ninety three. N, B. the Word " degree " was interlink 
before Sign? & Sealing; 

Signd Seal'i & Deliv' 

in presence of ( , _. /f^ 

/^ . , ^ , , / Lawrence Litchfield (( sk.,.. ,, 

Israel Litchfield ( - V-^—^^s^ 

Azotus Litchfield ) 

Plymouth ss. November 8'^: Day A. D. 1793 then Mr. Lawrence 
Litchfield personally appeared, Acknowledge' the foregoing Instrumenr 
by him subscribed to be his free Act and Deed 
Before me 

Israel Vinal Just Peace 
Received November 12 1793 & Recorded /r Me 

RossE'iER Cotton Reg"" : 

I'lymoutli, Mass., Nov. 22, 1906. 

The foregoing is a true copy from Plymouth Co. Reg. of I)eeds, 
Book 73, page 283. 

Attest : John B. Washburn, Register. 

The following- deed shows how james^-' Litchfield (Farnil) Xo, 
230) disposed of his share of his father's estate to Elijah'^ Litch- 
field (Family No. 200).